Too often, keepers don't understand how much they can control the pace of the game and also how important it can be, in certain situations.
When your team is under a lot of pressure and are pinned back in their defensive third of the field for an extended period of time, if you, as the keeper have a couple of options when you get the ball. The first thing to do is see if the opponent has committed so many players forward that they are now susceptible to a counter attack. This might be done by looking to see if you have a target player up front who is isolated one on one with the last defender. If you see this to be the case, it's worth considering the early long ball. However, even if you see this situation, you have to consider the pace of the game. If, by playing this long ball, it most likely results in loss of possession and the opponent coming right back at you again, the possible reward of the situation, might not be worth the risk of forcing your team to defend again.
The alternative is to slow the play down, let your team get out of the back and then either look to play a long ball or then look for a shorter throw. Even if you slow the game down and then play a long ball which results in a loss of possession, the backs had time to get forward, catch their breath and now they can defend in the middle third of the field as opposed to the back third.
How do you, as the keeper, slow the game down. First, you can simply hold the ball for a few seconds. Then, as the players clear out (both your players and the opponents), be willing to put the ball on the ground and dribble forward some. You don't want to take any chances in this situation so don't allow an opponent to get to close but be willing to leave the 18, go 25-30 yards out from your goal and then play from your feet. Before putting the ball on the ground, make sure to look around you to make sure no opponents are lurking around waiting for a mistake
On the other hand, if you have the opponent on the defensive and they are doing most of the defending, be willing to get the ball back in play quickly so as to keep them on the defensive. An example would be when your team is on the attack, the opponent wins the ball and plays it long and it comes back to you. Don't slow the game down at this time, instead, keep them on the defensive and get the ball back in play quickly.
Knowing when to slow down and when to speed up in an important part of being a keeper. Watch the pros and see how they make the decisions and how they control the tempo.
When your team is under a lot of pressure and are pinned back in their defensive third of the field for an extended period of time, if you, as the keeper have a couple of options when you get the ball. The first thing to do is see if the opponent has committed so many players forward that they are now susceptible to a counter attack. This might be done by looking to see if you have a target player up front who is isolated one on one with the last defender. If you see this to be the case, it's worth considering the early long ball. However, even if you see this situation, you have to consider the pace of the game. If, by playing this long ball, it most likely results in loss of possession and the opponent coming right back at you again, the possible reward of the situation, might not be worth the risk of forcing your team to defend again.
The alternative is to slow the play down, let your team get out of the back and then either look to play a long ball or then look for a shorter throw. Even if you slow the game down and then play a long ball which results in a loss of possession, the backs had time to get forward, catch their breath and now they can defend in the middle third of the field as opposed to the back third.
How do you, as the keeper, slow the game down. First, you can simply hold the ball for a few seconds. Then, as the players clear out (both your players and the opponents), be willing to put the ball on the ground and dribble forward some. You don't want to take any chances in this situation so don't allow an opponent to get to close but be willing to leave the 18, go 25-30 yards out from your goal and then play from your feet. Before putting the ball on the ground, make sure to look around you to make sure no opponents are lurking around waiting for a mistake
On the other hand, if you have the opponent on the defensive and they are doing most of the defending, be willing to get the ball back in play quickly so as to keep them on the defensive. An example would be when your team is on the attack, the opponent wins the ball and plays it long and it comes back to you. Don't slow the game down at this time, instead, keep them on the defensive and get the ball back in play quickly.
Knowing when to slow down and when to speed up in an important part of being a keeper. Watch the pros and see how they make the decisions and how they control the tempo.