Analysis of competitive application of elements of goalkeeper technique in football

Abstract

The subject of this paper is quantitative analysis of representation of certain elements of goalkeeper technique in modern football. The objective of the paper is to define, based on the analysis, the most efficient techniques of goal defending and to foresee possible direction in which goalkeeper technique is to be developed. The implemented research included a sample of representative goalkeepers playing for the national teams that ranked the first four positions at the last three World Cups. The analysis included the performance of a total of 14 goalkeepers. The sample of variables consisted of theoretically defined elements of goalkeeper technique: ball catching (from top, with hands face up, laterally, in falling motion, in falling motion with a flying phase), rebound, ball punching, bringing down of the ball, throwing the ball in space with hands and foot movement. According to the results obtained in this analysis, it can be stated that the latest decade of football game development has not featured significant changes in the structure of application of certain elements of technique (p = 0.12 - 0.65), except in representation of foot movement (p = 0.02). The last World Cups in Brazil in 2014 introduced to the greatest extent changes when it comes to this parameter of the goalkeeper play, and the goalkeepers at this competition played balls with their feet, compared to the two previous World Cups, and consequently participated more significantly in the phase of initiation and organization of their team attacks. Base on the results obtained in this research it can be stated that in future period goalkeeper activities will be more based on frequent leaving the box exiting the goal area with more significant role in passing game and cooperation with the players of the last line of the team.