Goalkeeping
Counter Goalkeeper Cross Collection
Judge the flight of a cross and claim it
Goalkeeping
Crossing
Defending
Counter Goalkeeper Cross Collection is a 16-minute goalkeeping drill for 3-12 players, suitable for Under 10 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, full goals. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.
Back to drill libraryGoalkeeping
Crossing
Defending
Skill Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Goals Needed
Counter Attack
Duration
16 min
Players
3-12
Pitch size
40 x 32 yards
Ability levels
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Pitch diagram
Counter Goalkeeper Cross Collection — Goalkeeping set-up — serve, save, reset · 40 x 32 yards
Step 1 of 5Wide server delivers a cross into the box.
- 1. Wide server delivers a cross into the box.
- 2. The keeper calls early and either claims or punches clear.
- 3. Add two attackers in the box for the last block.
- 4. The team in possession starts each rep in their own half and must build forwards.
- 5. Turnovers earn a direct counter at the mini goals worth two points.
- Cones mark the area
- Full goal
- GK = goalkeeper
- C = coach serving, S = second server
- Ball
- Cones mark the keeper's starting positions
- Dotted arrow = rotation between repetitions
- Keeper distributes back to the server
- Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble
Objectives
- -Judge the flight of a cross and claim it
- -Communicate clearly with defenders
- -Decide between catching, punching and staying
Setup
- 1A goal with crossing stations on both flanks in a 40 x 32 yards area.
- 2Place two mini goals on the halfway line for the counter-attacking side to aim at.
- 3Balls at both crossing stations, cones marking the six-yard box.
Coaching instructions
- 1Wide server delivers a cross into the box.
- 2The keeper calls early and either claims or punches clear.
- 3Add two attackers in the box for the last block.
- 4The team in possession starts each rep in their own half and must build forwards.
- 5Turnovers earn a direct counter at the mini goals worth two points.
Coaching points
- -Loud, early call
- -Attack the ball at the highest point
- -Strong knee up for protection
- -Counter in a straight line — the first pass forward beats the recovery run
Common mistakes
- -Getting stuck on the line
- -No communication with defenders
- -Dribbling into traffic when the counter is on
Where this drill fits
- More football goalkeeping drills
- More football crossing drills
- More football defending drills
- football drills for U10s
- football drills for U12s
- football drills for U14s
- football drills for U16s
- Football session plans built around this theme