The kickout – holding it together under pressure

A goalkeeper who wrote in before was back in touch this week: "My kickouts have improved since I concentrated on the eight-step method you covered. But I still struggle for consistency in difficult conditions or in tense situations."

We spoke again to well-known goalkeeping coach Paul O'Dowd of goalkeeping.ie, who was in goal when Cavan won the Ulster title in 1997.

"The routine is all-important when it comes to kickouts. That is why I emphasise the eight-step process, focussing on the run-up and the placement of the standing foot etc. And the key thing to remember is that if a kick goes wrong, don't panic, just fall back into the routine for the next kick.

However, it's very easy to let the circumstances of a game deflect your concentration as you become too aware of the importance of where kicks are landing.

I like to get goalkeepers to isolate the kicking technique itself from the result. After all, where the ball lands is a result how you strike it. So in practise, I initially focus the keeper on how they are striking the ball rather that where it lands.

In fact, I often get keepers to start off by kicking the ball into the net behind the goal, so the kicker isn't concentrating at all on where the kick lands. By isolating the technique, the keeper should be better able to produce the kick he needs under pressure.

It's also important to tailor your kicking to the prevailing weather and pitch conditions. On an uneven surface, try to place your kicking tee on a slight incline or at least on flat ground. It is extremely difficult to raise a kick if you are running downhill.

On a wet day when the ground is slippery, shorten your run-up to reduce the chance of falling. It is also harder to get your standing foot placed solidly on a wet day due to the mud so fewer steps can make it easier to get placement correct.

In blustery conditions, kick low into the wind, allowing the breeze to help rise the ball. When the wind is with you, get the ball high as early as possible so it can be carried on the wind. A low kick will drop much quicker."

If you would like copies of previous goalkeeping columns, or have any queries you'd like addressed, email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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