GK vs. CB

[Mannschaft]

11v11, ECNL.

GK is good, but inexperienced. Right back plays an absolute duck of a pass back to GK, that gives GK at best a 50% chance of getting it before the onrushing striker whose eyes just lit up like it is Christmas.

You’re a CB, and can easily get to the ball first and clear it, really without breaking much of a sweat. You start to do so and your GK calls you off.

What’s the play here?

As a former CB, I say when in doubt, kick it out. In this case, the CB held up her run, striker got there first, took a shot, but GK made the save (fortunately).

[DCUdad]

You are correct. Clear it if you are worried about what happens if you don't. But you'd better not mess it up! You can give the GK the hand-of-apology afterwards (they will probably know you saved their bacon, but no reason to rub their nose in it.)

[soccer_dc]

I think the CB was right to hold off when the GK called her off. Even if in this case the GK may have made the wrong call. GK and CB need to trust each other and if the GK calls it, CB should follow not only if she agrees. They should use this instance to discuss each other's perspectives and learn from it. Have them watch the game video and see how to play it better next time.

[Mannschaft]

Funny this came back up, because we lost our game today based on a similar situation. Same CB and GK (both strong players).

This time there was no error by anyone else, just a long ball being chased down by the CB. GK started coming out so CB held up her run (could have easily played it), but then GK hesitated (would have been close). Forward ran in, stole it, and scored easily.

I reiterated to my daughter the need for communication with the GK, and if she can easily play it, not to lay off unless she is 100% sure the GK will easily get it. In this case, the GK didn’t call her off, so the CB (my daughter) clearly made an error.

[Godot]

This is one of the toughest areas of development for GKs, especially girls. Being the absolute dictator in the back and being able to back it up. As the girls get older that command presence plus the trust of the defensive line teammates that the GK is correct when she calls it — that’s what separates a top GK from the others. The partnership between the CBs and the GKs can be pretty cool to see if that clicks well on a defensively minded team.