What is it? 

Fly goalkeeping involves using your keeper as an extra outfield player. It’s an interesting move – and often implemented towards the end of a game if a team needs to score. To find out more, play the video below.  

Adopting a fly goalkeeper can also be used to:  

• disrupt the rhythm of the game 
• force your opponent back – reducing pressure on your team 
• maximise your team’s possession of the ball when winning. 

When choosing a fly goalkeeper, there are two options: 

• ask your usual keeper to play ‘fly’ 
• substitute your usual keeper with an extra outfield player.  

Note: fly goalkeepers can keep the ball for as long as they want in the opponent's half (rather than the standard four seconds). 

How to attack with a fly goalkeeper 

Here, we’ll discuss two types of attack: the house system and the dice system.  

In both these systems, if your team lose the ball, it’s important to ‘swarm’ the opposition. This helps to prevent them getting a shot at your empty goal.  

The house  

This system uses three players at the back. With no keeper in net, it provides extra security for your team. As you have an extra outfield player, it should also be easier to keep the ball.  

When playing this shape, teams often score with shots from range. You also see a lot of back-post finishes, which tend to emerge from: 

• forward passes played diagonally through to the back post 
• balls played down one side and then across to the other post. 

If you’re playing the house system, encourage your players to be patient with shots and passes. They need to pick the perfect moment to pounce.  

The dice 

This system helps to create 3v2 overloads in your favour, using a central player in the middle of the shape to achieve this. It confuses the opposition and draws defenders in so that they leave space in wide areas.  When playing this shape, teams often score goals from range, back-post finishes and cut-backs to the middle player.

It is quite common for teams to switch between house and dice shapes in a single phase of play with a player moving into the middle for a short period of time, and then moving back out. 

How to defend against a fly goalkeeper 

Here, we’ll discuss two types of defence: the diamond system and the box system. In both situations it is most common for teams to drop and engage the attackers about 10 to 12 metres out from their own goal. This reduces the space available for the team with the extra player to find. It also means all the players are in front of the goal. 

The diamond 

The system is used to remain compact, so the ball does not pass through or into the defensive shape. It also enables the defenders to apply pressure to the attacker with the ball.  

This shape is usually used to counter the house system – especially if the ball is central.  

When the ball goes wide, the diamond shape should shift to become more like a square when defenders to rotate around. It is not a perfect square though – the top player needs to stop the ball being switched from one side to the other in one pass. 

The box 

This shape is usually used to counter the dice system. It helps teams prevent the ball from reaching the opposition player in the middle of the dice.