Angle Play
By Nathan Pitcock
The best professional goalkeepers make their job look easy. Many shots seem to come right at them, or within a step to either side, and only on rare occasions do we see them have to fly across the goal to make a save. Yet the first time you stepped between the posts, you were likely struck by how large the goal appears when actually standing beneath its shadow. At 192 square feet, the goalmouth is indeed a monster, and guarding its gaping expanse can be a daunting task. However, through proper angle play, the goalkeeper can actually make the goal smaller, and consequently the demands of defending it more manageable.
Making the Goal as Small as Possible
Finding the proper angle begins by establishing the center of the goal and imagining a line extending from the ball through this center (see diagram 1). We call this imaginary line the ball line. As the ball moves from side to side prior to the shot, the ball line also moves. Next, imaginary lines are formed extending from each goal post out to the ball. These lines also move as the ball is played from side to side prior to the shot. These lines from the ball to the goal posts will form a triangle, with the goal line as the base, and the ball located at the point. The shorter of these two lines extends from the near post, and the longer extends from the far post. These lines define the space in which the ball must travel for it to be on target. Except in the case of bending shots, a ball struck outside these lines will not be on goal. As the goalkeeper moves out along the ball line toward the shooter, the distance between the two lines gets smaller, and the space for the striker to shoot in decreases. Thus a goalkeeper who stands on his goal line will need to fly acrobatically across the goal to cover the near and far posts, while a goalkeeper who advances along the ball line will be increasingly capable of covering each post with a simple fall to either side, or perhaps even a mere extension of the arms. There are even times, often seen on breakaways, when the goalkeeper is able to get so close to the striker that he is able to make a “shape save” by staying big and forcing the striker to shoot the ball off of him. It must be noted, however, that as the goalkeeper advances along the ball line, the amount of time he has to react to the shot decreases.
Playing the Percentages by Protecting the Near Post
It is a widely accepted adage among goalkeepers that no goals can be given up at the near post. This imperative encourages the goalkeeper to play the percentages. Because it is closer and the angle of the shot is less severe, the near post is a higher percentage shot than the far post. If the goalkeeper denies the near post, the striker is enticed to go for the lower percentage shot to the far post. This is accomplished by taking a half step towards the near post line from the ball line. This half step allows the goalkeeper to get to the near post faster, and with both hands, which is required because near post shots arrive quicker and are often struck with greater force. Although the goalkeeper is likely only able to get one hand to the far post, this is often enough because due to the angle of the path that the shot travels towards the goal, even the slightest touch by the fingertip of the goalkeeper can push a far post shot wide and out of play. By “cheating” a half step toward the near post, the goalkeeper has encouraged the striker to attempt the more difficult, lower percentage shot to the far post.
The Third Dimension of Angle Play
Based on the diagram, it can be concluded that the farther the goalkeeper advances along the ball line, the smaller the goal becomes. Why then, do we not see goalkeepers playing further out from the goalmouth if this makes it more difficult for the striker to score? The answer is simple. While coming off the goal line reduces the space to the left or right that the striker has to shoot, it exposes the space behind the goalkeeper, which the striker may score in by chipping the ball over the top. Thus the goalkeeper advancing off the goal line is in increasing danger of being chipped by a crafty striker and deciding how far to come off the goal line must be a calculated risk.
There are a number of factors that must be considered when determining how far to come out. First consider the height, footwork and reaction speed of the goalkeeper. Taller goalkeepers are more difficult to chip and can get away with playing farther out (it should be noted that most younger goalkeepers cannot cover the crossbar on a full-sized goal no matter where they stand, and should be encouraged to come off the goal line and challenge the shooter, not worrying about the chip until they mature and grow into the size of the goal). The footwork of the goalkeeper also plays a role when balls are chipped over his head. An agile goalkeeper who reacts quickly, and is adept at the drop-step, will be able to recover from greater distances off the goal line in the event of a chip. The goalkeeper must also read the game and determine the likelihood of the chip. Stationary balls as well as those rolling toward the shooter are easier to chip than balls rolling away from the shooter, especially if the shooter is dribbling at full speed. Opponents under tight defensive pressure will find it difficult to execute a chip. The posture of the shooter is the final clue. When a striker lifts his head and raises up, a chip is likely and when the head is down and the body over the ball, a driven shot is almost certain.
Playing Good Angles in the Game
While it is true that good angle play can make the job of the goalkeeper appear easy, and the principles of angle play are themselves rather elementary, actually playing good angles in high-speed match situations requires exceptional footwork, a feel for the rhythm of the game, and a keen awareness of the goal area. In a game, the ball is almost always moving, and the angle of the impending shot is constantly changing. In order to keep up with the play and constantly get into good position, the goalkeeper will rely on footwork. Because this constant changing of position must often occur without the opportunity look back at the goal, goal awareness is required. Goal awareness is a sense for where one is in relation to the goal without turning and looking at it. Goal awareness is the product of peripheral vision, which allows the goalkeeper to observe all the markers on and around the field that cue his positioning, while at the same time maintaining focus on the ball and the developing play. Timing becomes a factor because when the striker is ready to hit the shot, the goalkeeper must get set, regardless of whether or not the correct position has been reached. If the goalkeeper’s feet are still moving, or staggered in their stance, the striker can slot the ball past the foot upon which the weight is balanced and the goalkeeper will be unable to react. At the highest levels of the sport, a great number of goals are scored this way, as strikers become experts at “wrong-footing” the goalkeepers. Thus timing and synchronizing with the rhythm of the shooter are also critical. The included exercises will train your goalkeepers the necessary elements for playing good angles in matches.