SILENCE ACADEMY GUIDE 01
GOALKEEPER COMMUNICATION: THE BASICS
Become the calmest voice on the pitch.
DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE GUIDEA goalkeeper sees the whole pitch. The right message, delivered at the right moment, can help a teammate make a decision and bring calm to the whole team.
The best goalkeeper communication isn’t the loudest. It’s calm, early, clear and useful.
01 — THE BASICS
Five foundations
Useful communication gives a teammate information they can understand and act on immediately.
Early
Give the information before your teammate needs to make the decision.
Clear
Use short, familiar words with one obvious meaning.
Calm
Confidence comes from a steady voice, not panic or anger.
Useful
Say something that helps the next action—not noise for its own sake.
Positive
Encourage teammates and give detail after the action has finished.
02 — WITH THE BALL
In possession
Help teammates see what you can see. Calls such as away, time and man on support calm decisions.
03 — WITHOUT THE BALL
Out of possession
Organise the space, identify danger and make decisive claims. Use calls such as keepers, away, step up, drop and hold.
04 — THE VOCABULARY
Essential calls
Start with a small vocabulary. Use the same words in training and matches so every teammate understands them.
KEEPERS!
I am claiming the ball.
SEE
A cross drops inside your claiming range.
DECIDE
When you are certain you can collect it safely.
SAY
KEEPERS! I am claiming the ball.
Calling late or calling and then stopping.
AWAY!
A defender must clear the danger.
SEE
Your area is crowded and can't get your hands on the ball
DECIDE
When you cannot safely claim the ball.
SAY
AWAY! A defender must clear the danger.
Using it when a more specific call would help.
TIME!
You have space to control and look up.
SEE
Scan behind your teammate before the ball reaches them. Check how close the nearest opponent is and where the pressure could come from.
DECIDE
If nobody can affect their first touch, they have time to control the ball, look up and make their next decision.
SAY
TIME! Call TIME! before they receive the ball — not after their first touch.
Never guess that a teammate has time. If you haven't scanned behind them, you don't know.
MAN ON!
Pressure is arriving immediately.
SEE
An attacker closes your defender from a blind side.
DECIDE
As early as possible before the first touch.
SAY
MAN ON! Pressure is arriving immediately.
Waiting until the opponent is already there.
05 — READ THE GAME
What would you call?
Seeing the picture is only half the job. Can you give the right information before your teammate needs it?
SCENARIO 01
Your defender has space
Your centre-back is about to receive facing their own goal. You scan behind them. No opponent is close.
What would you call?
Reveal answer
You scanned first and know there is no immediate pressure. Make the call while the ball is travelling so your teammate can plan their first touch.
SCENARIO 02
Pressure from the blind side
Your right-back is receiving near the touchline. An attacker is sprinting towards them from behind and they cannot see the pressure.
What would you call?
Reveal answer
Your teammate cannot see the danger. Give the warning before their first touch so they can protect the ball or play quickly.
SCENARIO 03
The cross is not yours
A high cross is dropping into a crowded area. Two players block your route and you cannot reach the ball cleanly.
What would you call?
Reveal answer
You cannot claim safely, so remove uncertainty for your defenders. Call AWAY early and let them attack the ball.
SWIPE TO TRY THE NEXT SCENARIO →
06 — MORE THAN A VOICE
Communication without shouting
Pointing, eye contact, body position and confident movement can all give useful information. Volume should fit the distance and urgency.
BODY LANGUAGE
Be visible and decisive
Face the play, show teammates where you want them and make your intention obvious. A clear hand signal can support your voice, especially in a noisy match.
A mistake is one moment. Your next message helps the team move on.
07 — BUILDING CONFIDENCE
Helping quieter goalkeepers
Communication is a skill. It develops through practice, trust and clear expectations—not demands to shout constantly.
FOR GOALKEEPERS
Start small
Choose three calls and aim to use each one clearly. Add more when those feel natural.
FOR COACHES
Reward useful detail
Praise timing, clarity and helpful information. Avoid judging communication only by volume.
FOR PARENTS
Notice progress
Ask which calls worked today. Let the coach lead from the touchline and reinforce calm confidence afterwards.
08 — PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
Training activities
Simple constraints create repeated opportunities to see, decide and speak.
Training activity
Call before the pass
Goalkeeper, two defenders and one pressing player. Start with the ball at the goalkeeper.
The goalkeeper plays into either defender. As the ball travels, the goalkeeper scans the defender’s surroundings and gives one clear piece of information before the defender receives.
Can you make the correct call before the receiver’s first touch?
Add a second pressing player or reduce the space so the goalkeeper has less time to scan and communicate.
Training activity
Claim or clear
Coach with a supply of balls. Goalkeeper in goal, two defenders and one attacker. The coach can serve from different positions around the penalty area.
The coach delivers different types of balls into dangerous areas. Before each ball arrives, the goalkeeper must read the flight, the space and the players around them, then decide: Can I claim it safely, or does my defender need to deal with it?
Make an early, decisive KEEPERS! or AWAY! call — then commit to your decision. No changing your mind halfway.
Vary the height, pace and position of the delivery. Add another attacker or defender to create traffic and make the goalkeeper’s decision more difficult..
Training activity
The reset game
Small-sided game with two teams and goalkeepers. Use a compact area with goals at each end.
Play normally, but after every goal, mistake or turnover, restart immediately. The goalkeeper must communicate straight away rather than dwelling on the previous action.
Give one calm, useful message within five seconds of every mistake, goal or major transition.
Award a bonus point when the goalkeeper gives a useful reset message that directly helps the next action.
09 — MATCH DAY
Five things to remember
Screenshot this list or use the printable version before kick-off.
Scan early. See the danger before your teammate does.
Use short calls with one clear meaning.
Match your volume to the distance and urgency.
Encourage teammates and save detailed feedback for afterwards.
After a mistake: acknowledge, reset, next action.
MATCH CHALLENGE
The Calmest Voice Challenge
Take what you've learned into your next match. Tick each challenge when you've done it.
YOUR CHALLENGE
Take these six challenges into your next match.