     In coaching and reffing I've noticed that new keepers and coaches seem to go into full panic mode after the keeper has made the save. I suggest that coaches work with their keepers as follows:

Advice to keepers:

First get control of the ball. This means two hands on the ball no doubt about it. Hug the ball but be sure it's yours.

Get control of yourself physically and mentally. If you're on the ground, get up. If you're moving, stop. Take a deep breath and relax.

Get control of your defense. Because the defense allowed a shot, things are probably disorganized or in total panic. Take charge. Make sure the attackers are marked. Make sure that all your players are standing. Give the defenders a chance to take a deep breath. Make sure that teammates are near where you plan to kick or throw the ball.

Now get rid of the ball. At first concentrate on kicking or throwing it wide and as far up the field as possible. Later work with your coach and teammates on a plan for distribution.


      The keeper can do all of this in the normal time allocated before the ref will start pressuring the keeper to release the ball. The keeper has 5 or 6 seconds or so to distribute the ball. The count normal starts after the keeper gets himself under control and is on his feet. 5-6 seconds is a pretty long time. So don't rush.

Advise to the coach:

Relax.

Don't yell GET RID OF THE BALL to your keeper.

Note what happens with the field players. Do they move wide to give the keeper a target? Do they move to the area where the ball is likely to be? I notice that a lot of field players even in U10 move near mid-field where it's highly unlikely the keeper will ever be able to kick or throw the ball. Are all the dangerous attackers marked goal side?

If the answers to any of #3 are no, then make a note to work on these issues at your next practice.

By now the keeper should have released the ball and you can worry about the other 10 players.

Note who wins the ball your team or the attackers. If your team didn't win the ball why not? Were they positioned too deep? Were they not aggressive enough? If your team won the ball, how did that happen? Luck, good positioning, hard work? After the game you can review your notes, either mental or written, and use the information to plan your next practice.

Congratulate the keeper on the save at half time or after the game. (This should be number 1 on your priority list.)