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0:00 We're going to start with our number one in the back. They've got a couple of jobs. Obviously, their job is to keep the ball out of the back of the net.
0:05 That's one of the things they do defensively. But more importantly, when we have the ball, their job is to get up the field and be that sweeper. Because,
0:14 as you can see in this picture here, you can see that space behind the back line of the two center backs who are keeping an eye out on that striker. They lose
0:23 the ball, they play the ball forward long and up the top. Because our keeper is now up and off their line, it's a relatively easy run for them to get to
0:34 that ball before the striker and those two center backs can get there and can now put that ball right back into an offensive moment, but at least if they
0:43 can't keep possession, can put it out of the dangerous way, put it out of bounds, and taking the throw-in or goal kick.
0:49 But let's compare and contrast that to what happens if they don't have a good starting position and don't get up the field to be that sweeper behind the back
0:58 But now, instead of where they are right now, what if the keeper stays on their line? Look at the amount of space that's there to be exploited. That spacing
1:07 behind or over the top can be really a dangerous space if you don't defend it correctly. And that's what happens when your keeper stays deep in the net when
1:16 the ball is up the other end. Because now your center backs have turned and are facing their own goal. They're trying to get to a ball that a striker
1:23 probably has a head start on. And now from this position, that spacing behind is much larger for the other team to play in. Maybe you've heard on a TV
1:32 announcer high line. That's what we're doing here. We're having our center backs play up high. But the key to that is to make sure to compress the space in
1:39 behind to make it harder for the other team to play into. But in this situation, because the keeper is so deep, it's practically given them the entire half of the field to play in and
1:49 behind. So that's why it's super important for keepers to get up and off and be that seventh defensive player behind the center backs when you have the ball.
