Goalkeeping

Back Pass Support Work

Deal with back passes under pressure

Goalkeeping

Playing Out From The Back

First Touch

Back Pass Support Work is a 15-minute goalkeeping drill for 3-10 players, suitable for Under 10 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, full goals, bibs. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.

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Goalkeeping

Playing Out From The Back

First Touch

Skill Practice

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Full Squad

Youth Friendly

Adult Suitable

Goals Needed

Duration

15 min

Players

3-10

Pitch size

Defensive third

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Back Pass Support Work — Goalkeeping set-up — serve, save, reset · Defensive third

Step 1 of 3Defenders pass back to the keeper under pressure.

1. Defenders pass back to the keeper under pressure.
2. Keeper must play out to an outlet or clear long if pressed.
3. Ten repetitions then rotate.

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

-Deal with back passes under pressure
-Support the defence as a footballer
-Make the right decision at speed

Setup

1Keeper with two defenders in front of the goal.
2One or two pressing forwards.
3Target outlets on both flanks.

Coaching instructions

1Defenders pass back to the keeper under pressure.
2Keeper must play out to an outlet or clear long if pressed.
3Ten repetitions then rotate.

Coaching points

-Position to receive on an angle, not flat
-First touch away from the presser
-Communicate the option before receiving

Common mistakes

-Standing flat behind the ball
-Taking too many touches
-Panicked clearance out of play

Equipment needed

Balls

Cones

Full Goals

Bibs

Age groups

Under 10

Under 11

Under 12

Under 13

Under 14

Under 15

Under 16

Adults

Progressions

+Set Position Check: serve early to shorten the set time
+Blind Serve: add a deflection off a mannequin
+Distribution Exit: coach calls the target after the save
+Add a competitive scoreline for the last round

Regressions

-Set Position Check: announce the serve so the keeper can prepare
-Blind Serve: serve slower and from further out
-Distribution Exit: one fixed target every time
-Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

-Set Position Check — The keeper must be fully set — feet split, hands ready — before every strike.
-Blind Serve — The keeper starts facing away or with a screen blocking sight of the strike.
-Distribution Exit — Every save or catch must be followed by a chosen distribution: throw, side-volley or pass to a full-back.
-Handling Volume — Ten unbroken repetitions per set with clean handling — a drop means the set restarts.
-1v1 Situation — A live attacker runs onto the ball, so the keeper must decide to close, hold or spread.
-Cross Claiming — Serves come as crosses from both sides with a passive attacker in the six yard box.
-Fatigue Finish — Finish each set with three saves in ten seconds to work handling under fatigue.
-Flip the practice to the opposite side of the pitch