Communicating With The Defense On Corners and Crosses

Communicating With The Defense On Corners and Crosses


Crosses and corner kicks are considered "high concentration" situations for a keeper and his/her defense. Obviously, the keeper must focus on the ball as the service is taken so that he/she can properly judge the flight of the ball to handle the situation.

What should a keeper do to help keep his/her defense organized and concentrating during these situations?

Preventing the cross by the defender ("No Service!"). ORGANIZE YOUR DEFENSE THROUGH COMMUNICATION!!!

Your defense should be man - marking when their opponent is within the 18 yard box; and following is the correct position for the defender:

defenders should be goal-side of their mark.
defenders should be ball-side of their mark
defenders should touch their mark
When a crossing or corner kick situation occurs, the keeper should steal a quick look at his/her defense to observe any dangerous situations that may occur in marking. Then, as the keeper turns his/her focus to the ball, communication should begin loud and clear instructing the defense to stay goal-side, ball-side and touch your mark UNTIL the ball is either in the keeper’s hands or the ball is out of harms way. Too many times a defender will lose his/her mark after the ball has been touched by a player in the box but it has not been cleared out of danger.
Always keep reminding your defense to stay goal-side, ball-side and touch their mark and the possibility of needless goals may diminish.


Thanks, Paul

Paul Blodgett Goalkeeper Training School, (NJ, Flemington) www.njgoalkeeperschool.com The PBGKTS goes well beyond training and drills, instead providing a full spectrum approach focused soley upon the goalkeeper position. Paul Blodgett Goalkeeper Training School offers camp and small group training environments, game analysis, as well as online resources. Contact Paul Blodgett at pblodgett@earthlink.net





By: Paul Blodgett, Founder of Paul Blodgett Goalkeeper Training School, (NJ, Flemington), Rutgers University Assistant Coach, and NJ ODP