Powerful Goalkeeping Tips For The 6-a-Side Goalkeeper…
September 13, 2007
Small things pack a punch, kind of like a tiny Jorge Campos in-between the sticks. If old Jorge was still plying his goalkeeping trade and was placed in the 6-a-Side goal-mouth, then I assume that a giant chaos would ensue. I’ve played one game of 6-a-side thus far and it is a revelation that I had not payed attention to it for quite some time. Following are some of the things I’ve learned from 6-a-side:
When It Comes To Small Things, Big Is Everything: It sucks to see goalkeepers being…well, typical goalkeepers when it comes to 6-a-side. Getting large in goal, acting as an integral part of the defensive unit by contibuting to offensive play ultimately allows a 6-a-side goalkeeper to be more effective in goals. What I mean here, is that the goalkeeper is being large, playing off his line at all times.
Get Used To Your Feet: 6-a-side goalkeepers should be able to use their feet effectively. In fact, being able to distribute the ball effectively from the ground is vital with 6-a-side goalkeeping. This same vital skill with the feet also transitions to larger football fields, where getting a feel for the ball and how to distribute directly to your outfield players is essential. Having the ability for one-touch plays (which are part and parcel of effective 6-a-side football) will also enhance your ability to distribute the ball effectively.
Get To Know “Other” Parts Of Your Body: Another great aspect of 6-a-side goalkeeping is the need to get creative with the way you attack and distribute the ball. Sometimes you will need to trap the ball with your chest, or head out a ball in a one to one situation. One other important aspect is attacking the ball when the ball is at the players feet. 6-a-side goalkeeping will allow any goalkeeper to be more aggressive, as the pace of the game is dynamic.
6-a-side goalkeeping is great for enhancing goalkeeper fitness, it’s truly pure interval training as the pace is relentless and the time a game pans out for is short with the activity being intense. So, don’t let yourself get chubby in the off season, utilize 6-a-side to enhance your goalkeeping skills and push your overall fitness to new heights.
Just found the site, nice work. I read this article as i’m a keeper in a 6 a-side team on the South Coast, playing league matches twice a week. Your analysis is pretty accurate, but here’s my tips for keeping in 6 a-side.
1) Command Your Box – in most small sided football the keeper can’t leave his area, and as the box is small it’s vital that you control it’s space…don’t let strikers have two touches. Be aggressive and loud.
2) Get Off Your Line – the goals are much smaller obviousley, so if you know your angles you should be aiming to play 5-8 yards off your line…you’re unlikely to get lobbed due to the height of the crossbar but even if you do you’ve got a decent chance of recovering. This positioning also gives you a great chance of winning a one v one if a striker gets behind your defence and into the box.
3) Close Quickly, Be Brave – most of my saves are made at peoples feet as i’m out very quickly if a striker gets free…read the game, and deny the striker time to control and look up…if you’re on your line he’ll smash it past you from 6/7 yards and you’ve no chance at that range.
4) Distribution – in open play the keeper almost becomes a sweeper, and you should expect to recieve the ball to feet constantly..be careful playing it short out of your box as the opposition will be pressing your team-mates…it’s a good idea to kick long and start an attack or clear your lines.
Great overview Simon, definitely some great points to take away, especially playing off your line to aid attack and attacking the ball at the players feet.
Thanks John, and really enjoyed browsing Keeper Skool & will be adding the site to my favourites.
As a keeper I prefer small sided games over 11 a-side as you are always involved in the game! The play is end to end just like basketball so keeping clean sheets is very tough, but very rewarding when you do!
I recommend small-sided football to any keeper as they are so good for improving every aspect of your game.
Fellow goalkeepers,
I use "small field" soccer as a way to train during the week. I’m an amator goalkeeper from Romania and since i’m at the office all day, i don’t have time for proper training anymore. So i use this 6 a-side football 3 nights a week as my only preparation for the sunday amator league championship.
Since i used to be pro goalie for a few years, i know how i should be training and what aspects of goalkeeping i sould improve. My personal opinion is that 6 a-side soccer determinates a goalie to use incorect techniques when on the normal pitch. For example, I noticed that i use handball-like saves (using my feet instead of the proper 2 hand ground save) on the big pitch as well nowadays and also that i don’t judge crosses ang high balls correct any more.
Do you think that playing 6 a-side can make a goalkeeper get "bad habits" and be unsure at high balls when playing regular soccer?
i am a 5 a side goalie and play 3timez a week a like to keep a cleen sheet when a play so i keep small and b4 the shot ccomes a get down so the angel is harder fur the attacker to get the ball past mee . ass i see the full game from where a stand a keep ma team m8z going by being loud n tell them when therez a man tight ..
I’m no pro, but I played keeper for 3 years in HS and had good success due entirely to excellent coaching (and just enough humility to listen to the coach) from a guy who was semi-pro and had played for years.
Fast forward 20 years or more and I’m a dad to three kids. I keep fairly fit and was just invited to start playing on a recreational co-ed team, 6-a-side, small pitch (maybe 25×35 yards/meters). In addition to being 20 years away from goal-keeping, I find that the small pitch is really throwing me off. All my instincts are to charge the breakaway forward, but on the small pitch he gets help SO fast from other attacking forwards that it sometimes seems like I’m out of position.
I’m really struggling to get my bearings on the small field. Very interesting to read the comments above, especially Dan B.
Jon
I don’t think that 6 a side football gives keepers an disadvantage in all honestly i believe that it improves a lot in the keepers play, for example:
As the pace of six a side is soo much faster than a normal match it means a keeper gets more intensive play.
It means that the keepers have to improve on their foot movement and their angles to cover the goal as most players tend to give the ball a lashing.
It also encourages keepers to play a sweeper keeper role which is becoming much more important as sweepers have been taken out of the game due to the offside rule.
Also the problem of keepers using their feet is a problem created by the keeper it depends on weather the keeper cares more about 11 a side or 6 a side.
The problem about six a side is that you don’t deal with balls in the air but this is where you should take some time to do this with your 11 a side team, many keepers arn’t good at taking high balls and this is because keepers like to make saves even though a well taken cross shows a better keeper who knows how to keep.
I play in goal for my 6 a side team every Tuesday being a leisure leagues league the keepers aren’t allowed out the area, strikers aren’t allowed in and we can only distribute the ball by throwing. As when I play 11 a side I am a central midfielder this is a slight disadvantage to me as I cannot pass the ball out, however I feel the most important thing is to control the rest of the team. 6 a side should be like a basketball match coming back and forwards as a team. When goalkeeping it’s mainly shot stopping so reactions is the main part handling doesn’t matter as strikers aren’t allowed to go in the box.
Hey I have been keeping at 6 a side for two years, one thing I have found useful is to get your defenders to push the attackers out wide, they will 90% of the time try to shoot for your far post, but with the angles you should be able to save them all day. Also, keep in contact with your defenders, tell them when there is an attacker free and reinforce the idea of not letting them getting the shot. I like to shout ”No shot!” repeatedly, which while annoying is very effective for motivating the defence