How to Keep in 5-A-Side Football Goals
Tips and Tactics for Small-Sided Soccer Goalkeepers
5-, 6-, and 7-a-side football is becoming increasingly popular around the world. In the UK, Goals and Powerleague combined have over 70 facilities across the country. Easier to organise than traditional 11-a-side, teams are generally made up of work colleagues, friends, or housemates. It generally is a faster-paced, more fluid and shorter game that can rack up huge scores such as 43-0, or 27-11.
For goalkeepers small-sided football games are significantly different from 11-a-side. The goals are smaller and shots are from a much shorter distance. As such, keeping in 5-a-side goals requires a keeper to change how they play.
Different Rules for Small-Sided Football
Each league, competition, and tournament will have different rules for how the game should be played. Generally, the largest differences in rules apply to a goalkeeper, which makes it vitally important to understand what rules you are playing under.
The most common differences in rules are:
- Backpasses to the keeper. Some rules ban them, other rules ban backpasses that return the ball immediately. If they are not prohibited then goalkeepers can become major parts of the passing game.
- Means of ball distribution. Are you allowed over-arm throws, kicks, or simply underarm roll-outs?
- Use of the area. Are people allowed to come in; are you allowed to leave?
Tips and Tactics for 5-A-Side Goalkeepers
- Be mindful of the shape, location and size of your goal. Learn to judge where you are in relation to your goal. When there is time available, turn to look at one of your posts so you can judge your position.
- Shout at your players. You have the best view of potential problems so it is your job to ensure that there is a last man or that players are adequately marked.
- Always put a man on the setpiece taker. This has the benefit of partially frustrating their ability to take a setpiece and also ensures that the setpiece taker is not unmarked if the ball is played back to him.
- Wear good protection. Most small-sided pitches are astroturf, which is grass-like plastic over concrete. A padded goalie top, knee pads and shin pads should protect against most preventable injuries.
- As most rules prohibit leaving your area, try to delay coming out for one-on-ones until the last possible second.
- Stay off your line. Lobs are extremely rare in small-sided games.
- If strikers are not allowed into the area, pat down shots rather than attempting catches.
- Learn how to fake throws. With these you can easily draw opposition players out of position and open up real passes.
- Remember that blocks and parries, while not ideal, are required in a game where players can shoot from point-blank range regularly.
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