084-085: Positioning Fundamentals with Douglas Cardosi

As Doug Cardosi explains it, mastering positioning and angle play can simplify your job, it can turn difficult saves into routine saves, and it can eliminate threats before they develop. The Royal Oak FC Director of Goalkeeping breaks down the fundamentals on a long-overdue two-part series.

The Chicagoland goalkeeping fixture and longtime director of the PAWS Goalkeeper Academy brings over 20 years of coaching and teaching experience to bear on one of goalkeeping’s most important – and often-ignored – topics.

In Part I, Doug starts from the beginning, outlining the basic principles that he teaches the youngest keepers. After getting them off the goalline and familiar with the ball-line principle, he tackles pressure-vs-no-pressure positioning and time-vs-angle principles. He also discusses the evolution of angle play as keepers develop experience and the ability to read and anticipate attacks.

In Part II, we move to more specific scenarios, including breakaways, free kicks, corner kicks and threats from the flank. Doug also offers some pointers for the training pitch and weighs in on the near-post myth.

We cover a lot of ground across two episodes on a topic that’s essential, even if it’s not glamorous.

Special thanks to Doug Cardosi for joining me!