Handling Crosses

The ability to catch crosses is an absolute must for goalkeepers in the modern game. Goalkeepers who stick to the goal line put their teams at a major disadvantage. Attacking players are more athletic and bigger than ever, and they will finish many more chances to score if they don’t have to cope with the goalkeeper going after high balls.

When a defender battles an attacker for a high ball, it is very much a 50-50 battle. And a well-hit cross improves the odds in the attacker’s favor. But the goalkeeper, with the luxury of going after the ball with his hands, has a big advantage over the attacker.

Of course, attackers would rather battle a defender for a header than battle a goalkeeper. They know that the keeper has the advantage in such a matchup and may very well win the ball. A goalkeeper’s ability to catch crosses may even force the opposing team to alter its attacking style. If the keeper is strong in the air, teams will have to serve balls farther away from the goal or try to create goal-scoring chances in another manner.

When goalkeepers establish themselves in the air, the defenders are spared the difficult task of battling for high balls deep in their penalty area. Knowing that the keeper can play off the line and claim crosses takes enormous pressure off the defenders and creates a tactical advantage for the keeper’s team. By claiming balls that fly into the penalty area, the goalkeeper allows the team to defend higher upfield from the goal. This allows for earlier pressure on the ball and is much more difficult for the opponent to play against.

The keeper who snags a cross eliminates the scoring chance before the shot on goal, which is always preferable to having to save a close-range effort on the goal line. Catching a cross also makes it easier for the keeper to initiate a counterattack by throwing or kicking the ball to a teammate.