Commentary on the utilizing of goalkeepers in small-sided-games in soccer

Abstract Goalkeepers (GK) are an essential part of soccer competition and training. While having their own individual training most of the time, they also participate in team training and, therefore, in small-sided games (SSGs). Different task constraints such as pitch size affect the GK’s physical, technical, and tactical performance. However, the GK participation itself can be regarded as an influential factor with regard to regular players’ physiological, physical, technical, and tactical performance during SSGs. The GK lowers the physiological and physical load of regular players over a variety of SSGs incorporating different number of players and pitch sizes. Very scarce scientific evidence is available with regard to the technical and tactical change in regular players due to GK participation. However, it seems that important technical variables (e.g., passing, dribbling, and scoring) are lower with GK presence. Tactical variables change in defensive situations as well as in the offensive situations.