Letting the Ball Roll Out–Don’t
Not having played in the goal, I was marveling as I watched a
high school soccer game a little while ago at some of the keeper’s decisions.
While most were good, one struck me as bad. And, it’s a decision I see many
young goalies make, and never understand whether they are being taught this
decision, or whether it just comes from copying other keepers who make the same
judgmental error. I am referring to times when a keeper intentionally allows a
perfectly playable ball go over the end line for a goal kick.
The first question that comes to mind when this happens is
"why?" Why would the keeper rather let the play result in a goal kick than in a
keeper possession. Once a ball goes over the end line, the opposing team has
more time to set up defensively. Why would the keeper rather have a free kick
from the 6 yard line than the ball in his or her possession from the 18, there
are more options? As a keeper, doesn’t having control of the ball in your hands
give you more options than having to kick the ball from further back?
And let’s not forget the worst case scenario–the keeper
misjudges the ball’s trajectory and lets it go, right into the net. I have seen
it happen, and it’s not pretty.
The advantages to the keeper that come from getting their
hands on the ball are great when compared to letting the ball roll out of
bounds. A keeper should always want the ball in his hands. If he has a play on
the ball, he should make it.
Take control of the box, keeper; and keep the neighbors out of your yard!
