How to Develop Your Ball Distribution: A Step-by-Step Plan for Goalkeepers
Ball distribution is the ability to pass, throw, or kick the ball accurately and effectively from the goalkeeper’s possession. It is a vital skill for a modern goalkeeper, as it can help his team retain possession, launch counterattacks, or change tactics.
Ball distribution requires vision, technique, decision-making, and communication skills. A goalkeeper with good ball distribution can help his team in many ways, while a goalkeeper with poor ball distribution can hurt his team in many ways.
Therefore, it is crucial for goalkeepers to develop their ball distribution skills and master different techniques. In this article, we will look at a step-by-step plan for goalkeepers to develop their ball distribution.
Step 1: Assess Your Current Level of Ball Distribution
The first step to developing your ball distribution is to assess your current level of skill and identify your strengths and weaknesses. You can do this by:
- Asking for feedback from your coach, teammates, or peers
- Recording and reviewing your games or training sessions
- Taking a self-assessment test or quiz
Some of the aspects you should evaluate are:
- Your footwork and balance when passing, throwing, or kicking the ball
- Your accuracy and power when passing, throwing, or kicking the ball
- Your vision and awareness when scanning the field and finding open teammates
- Your decision-making and communication when choosing the best option and executing it
- Your confidence and composure when dealing with pressure or mistakes
You should also consider the different types of ball distribution techniques that you use or need to use, such as:
- Back passes
- Throws
- Goal kicks
- Drop kicks
You should rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 for each aspect and technique and identify the areas that you need to improve the most.
Step 2: Set Your Goals and Plan Your Action Steps
The second step to developing your ball distribution is to set your goals and plan your action steps. You can do this by:
- Setting SMART goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound
- Breaking down your goals into smaller and manageable tasks or milestones
- Planning your action steps that will help you achieve your tasks or milestones
- Scheduling your action steps into your daily or weekly routine
- Tracking your progress and adjusting your plan as needed
Some examples of SMART goals for ball distribution are:
- I want to improve my accuracy of back passes by 10% in the next month
- I want to increase my power of throws by 5 meters in the next two weeks
- I want to master different types of goal kicks in the next three months
- I want to score or assist one goal from a drop kick in the next season
Some examples of action steps for ball distribution are:
- Practice back passes with a partner or a wall for 15 minutes every day
- Do strength exercises for your arms and shoulders three times a week
- Watch videos of top goalkeepers who use different types of goal kicks and analyze their technique
- Practice drop kicks with a target or a goal for 10 minutes every other day
Step 3: Practice Your Ball Distribution Skills Regularly and Effectively
The third step to developing your ball distribution is to practice your skills regularly and effectively. You can do this by:
- Practicing with purpose and focus on improving your specific aspects and techniques
- Practicing with variety and challenge yourself with different situations, scenarios, and conditions
- Practicing with feedback and seek constructive criticism from your coach, teammates, or peers
- Practicing with fun and enjoyment and reward yourself for your achievements
Some examples of exercises and drills for ball distribution are:
- Back Pass Drill: This drill involves four goalkeepers and one feeder. The goalkeepers take turns to receive a back pass from the feeder and clear it away to another goalkeeper. The goalkeepers have to use both feet and make quick decisions. This drill improves their footwork, composure, and accuracy.
- Throwing Drill: This drill involves four goalkeepers and one feeder. The goalkeepers take turns to catch a ball from the feeder and throw it to another goalkeeper. The goalkeepers have to use different types of throws depending on the distance, angle, and trajectory. This drill improves their throwing technique, power, and accuracy.
- Goal Kick Drill: This drill involves four goalkeepers and one feeder. The goalkeepers take turns to kick a ball from the ground or from their hands to another goalkeeper. The goalkeepers have to use different types of kicks depending on the power, accuracy, and spin they want to achieve. This drill improves their kicking technique, power, and accuracy.
- Drop Kick Drill: This drill involves four goalkeepers and one feeder. The goalkeepers take turns to drop kick a ball from their hands to another goalkeeper. The goalkeepers have to time their drop and kick perfectly and use different types of drop kicks depending on the bounce, spin, and curve they want to achieve. This drill improves their drop kick technique, timing, and accuracy.
Step 4: Apply Your Ball Distribution Skills in Games and Competitions
The fourth and final step to developing your ball distribution is to apply your skills in games and competitions. You can do this by:
- Reviewing your goals and action steps before each game or competition and reminding yourself of what you need to do
- Performing your skills with confidence and composure during each game or competition and adapting to the situation
- Evaluating your performance after each game or competition and identifying what went well and what needs improvement
- Celebrating your successes and learning from your failures and using them as motivation for the next game or competition
Some examples of tips and tricks for ball distribution in games and competitions are:
- Playing out from the back and preventing the opposition from pressing
- Finding open teammates and creating numerical advantages
- Switching play and exploiting space on the opposite flank
- Supporting the attack and providing an extra option
- Scoring goals or assisting goals from long range
Conclusion
Ball distribution is a skill that can make or break a goalkeeper’s performance. A goalkeeper with good ball distribution can help his team in many ways, while a goalkeeper with poor ball distribution can hurt his team in many ways.
Therefore, goalkeepers should develop their ball distribution skills and master different techniques. By following this step-by-step plan, they can assess their current level, set their goals, practice their skills, and apply them in games and competitions.