Keeper Distance Delivery
Choose a realistic distant free receiver and deliver a controlled ground goal kick.
- 12 min
- 4–8 players
Drill · U9
Roll to the Free Gate
Choose and execute a controlled rollout towards an unoccupied ground target.
- Duration
- 8 min
- Players
- 2–4 (ideal 2)
- Goalkeeping
- Passing
- Scanning
Setup
Step 1 of 2
One complete 2-player group is shown. Green GK holds the ball facing a blue upper gate and yellow lower gate. Red 2 is a gate blocker who walks to stand short of one gate before service, leaving the other route clear. No one stands behind a target.
Coaching points
- Setup: Green GK holds the ball facing a blue upper gate and yellow lower gate. Red 2 is a gate blocker who walks to stand short of one gate before service, leaving the other route clear. No one stands behind a target.
- Play: Red chooses one gate and stops outside its mouth. GK looks up and rolls the held ball along the ground towards the other gate. A ball through the free gate is one shared point; a blocked route earns no point. Red never contests a roll or moves across its path after release.
- Reset and rotation: Stop the ball before collecting. Swap keeper and blocker after three rolls; rest after 30 seconds. The blocker changes gate only between attempts, with both players ready before release.
- Numbers: The diagram shows 2 players. With up to 4, use a second complete group in a separate area. Odd spare players rest off the area and rotate into a playing role every 45 seconds; everyone has equal turns.
- Coach focus: Choose the unoccupied route before releasing. Use a comfortable low hand rollout rather than a kick or forceful throw. Accuracy and a clear route count, not speed.
- Safety: Adult supervision on level clear ground. Gentle service only; agree readiness before release. Stay on feet: no diving, jumps, contact, slide, contested catch or fast close shot. Stop a missed ball rather than chase. Retrieve and rotate only while play is stopped.
Equipment
- Ball · 2 per group, including a spare
- Gate · 2 per group
- Flat Marker · 4 per group for field and zone corners, in addition to pictured markers
- Bib · 2 per group; colours match the pictured roles
Progressions
- Easier Name the free gate before the roll and widen it if the ball repeatedly misses.
- Harder Let the blocker choose either gate without announcing it, then stop before GK acts; retain gentle ground delivery.
