In this session filmed exclusively for CV Academy in October 2023, Brighton lead academy goalkeeper coach Josh Dowsett delivers a series of practices designed to develop goalkeepers’ ability to deal with cut-backs and crosses.

The session, filmed when Dowsett was assistant and goalkeeper coach for the Brighton Women’s Under-19 team, starts with a handling practice designed to work on key technical and positional points. It moves on to a technical passing practice that gives the goalkeepers – and two outfield players returning from injury – lots of touches of the ball. The third practice is played in the same area as the second, and challenges the keepers on their technique and positioning when facing cut-backs and deeper crosses, while still working on their passing and receiving skills. The goalkeepers then join the rest of the group in an 11v11 game; here, they should bring their understanding of the team’s key in-possession and out-of-possession principles to a match situation, while working on communication with their teammates.

It’s an enlightening and well-delivered session that gives a great insight into how a progressive academy is delivering modern goalkeeper coaching. We hope you enjoy it!

Please also click below to access the accompanying session plan in PDF form.