The Life and Times of a Spare Keeper

 
Love ‘em or hate ‘em many solo players use ‘em. Some in different ways to others but usually for the same purpose. The taking of goal kicks is the obvious one, clearing the ball is another. What usually differs from my observations, is when the free standing custodian can legitimately be brought into play, this differs slightly from solo player to solo player. Some will bring it into play once the ball enters the 18 yard box, others the same but only when that side is in possession. Some start it from anywhere inside or behind the 6 yard box, and others from anywhere behind the goal line. So we can see there are no hard and fast rules here, I’m going to discuss my method and how it fits in with my flavour of rules, giving you an insight into my thoughts and ideas on it's use.

In The Beginning

In the words of the early 50’s rules it states:

“The goalkeeper may be taken off the wire holder and flicked against the ball by the normal method. The goal-keeper may only play the ball twice in the penalty area, and once outside. 
Should he miss the ball whilst off the wire, the other side may play whilst he is out of goal. The goal-keeper may only resume his correct position when the opposing side finish their immediate play.

Goal-Keeper Clearing.

  
When an attacking side bring the ball down into their opponent’s penalty area, the defending goal-keeper may be given the chance to clear by being flicked against the ball, irrespective of whether it is the defending sides turn to play or not. 
The ball after having been kicked by the goal-keeper, is immediately in the possession of the attacking side, even if it should have been deflected onto a defending figure. 
The goal-keeper can be replaced on the wire immediately in cases where the ball is hit, but when it is missed the ruling is the same as stated under goal-keeping”.

Now make of that what you will, to me it reads that the goalkeeper can be used in this fashion irrespective of possession.

In between those early 50’s rules and the 70’s the wording of the rule was changed, which simplified matters and attempted to make the rule more black and white and less grey.

 

The Simplified 60's Rules

These simply stated that:

“The goalkeeper can be taken off the rod and can play the ball TWICE in the area, and ONCE outside. Should he miss the ball he must stay in his position until his side regains possession of the ball”.

So the clearing rule was scrapped, but all this changed again in the 70’s.

This Maybe Is The Rule We All Know

In the 70’s the rule was reworded and changed to probably the rule most of us out there know today, and many of us play a variation of

The goalkeepers side had to be in possession before the spare goalkeeper could be brought into play, playing the ball TWICE inside, and ONCE outside the area was kept, but should the goalkeeper lose possession, the attack can play the ball 3 times providing they themselves don't lose possession, before the normal goalkeeper can be reinstated, but it may be used for defensive flicks if required.

My Solo rules are loosely based on this method, but with a few alterations which I will explain why in the following paragraphs. (Yes my friends there’s more).

My Variant Of The 70’s Rule

First and foremost it has to be said that spare goalkeepers are are part of my game, which can be brought into play from time to time, for a variety of reasons. The obvious one is the taking of goal kicks, I also allow any free kick award inside the defensive shooting area to be taken by the little fella, or after receiving a back pass, maybe as an extra defender to get to the ball when in possession. But it has it drawbacks which I’ll now attempt to explain.

 
Now for any female readers amongst us please excuse me if I refer to the keeper as he or him in the following, but my players look like men so bear with me if I refer to them as just that.
 
The spare goalkeeper can only be brought into play if his side is in possession, (makes sense to me especially in a solo game). The usual keeper is removed, put into the back of the net etc. so he’s not on the field of play. Then the spare keeper is placed anywhere inside or behind the constrains of the 6 yard box as he’s brought into play. 
From this position he may play the ball as an outfield player, therefore he can play the ball up to 3 times before another member of the team must play the ball.

Once the ball has been played by a teammate the spare keeper may be removed, (providing they are still in possession at that point), and the usual custodian replaced, but he doesn’t have to be, he can stay on the pitch and maybe used again from his current position to play the ball if required, but he can only be replaced after a teammate has been successfully flicked at the ball and retains possession, or the ball goes out of play. Once it has been removed it is not allowed to come back onto the field of play during that period of possession by his team. No ifs, buts or maybes, I don’t allow it.

Now should a spare keeper, lose possession directly (with the exception of playing the ball out of play), a teammate is not successfully flicked at the ball following a touch by the spare keeper, or said flick loses possession, the little fella stays where he is stranded in the shooting area whilst the attack rub their hands together at the prospect of earning themselves an easy reward.

The attack may then play the ball a maximum of 3 times, before the spare keeper is replaced with the usual variety. Should the attack lose possession, or put the ball out of play, before they have played the ball three times, the spare keeper breathes a great sigh of relief and scampers off the pitch, letting his counterpart take the blame.

If a blocking flick under my rules is justified during all of this, the spare keeper may be used for the purpose if required.

Goal and Free Kicks

The spare keeper can take goal and free kicks inside the shooting area if required, but he is under similar constraints as above. On these occasions he can only play the ball once, but may only be removed after a teammate has been successfully flicked at the ball and retains possession, or the ball goes out of play. Yes he can remain on the pitch but he runs the risk as above, of being left floundered if his team lose possession. Remember he can only be removed immediately after a teammates successful flick at the ball, and his side is in possession or the ball goes out of play.

So Why Draconian?

To my way of thinking I don’t feel it’s harsh to play this way, if he appears on the field of play he needs rules to adhere to, not superhuman powers. He becomes a part of the game with no more abilities than his teammates, and only allowing him to be removed once a teammate has played the ball and retains possession, or the ball goes into touch, makes him just as vulnerable as any other player on the pitch. So a little care must be taken on how and when to use him.

I’ve seen players take goal kicks with the spare keeper, then immediately remove them from the field of play. Nothing wrong with that, in fact, it’s probably more realistic than my preferred method, but in my eyes far less of a challenge and I’m always up for one of those.

Other Uses

What I’m about to mention is probably not classed as an alternative use, more of a different way the spare keeper can be incorporated into games for instance in cup ties. In my Bonfire Alliance Solo League, I run a cup competition that features all teams from the 3 divisions. Now if a Premier league teams plays a Championship team, the lads from the Championship only get two flicks with their spare goalie, a Conference side only one when playing Premier league opposition. The full procedure can be found in my rules download on the appropriate page of the blog. I find by limiting the lower tiered teams this way it’s enough to give a slight advantage to the higher tiered team, but not as much as to limit the shocks that occur in cup football.

And Finally

However the spare goalkeeper is used is up to you the individual. I do however think as individuals it’s always good to understand the different ways of adapting rules to suit ones needs and sharing those ways not as a definitive answer, but as an alternative should one be required. The more we know and share, can encourage others if they so wish to be a little more creative in this absorbing hobby.

There’s never a wrong way for anything in Solo Land, only lots of right ways.

Keep On Flicking

Ian

Comments

  1. David FNovember 22, 2022 at 11:01 AM

    Fifties-type rules here, with one small word removed. The flicking keeper is not the 'spare' keeper, but simply 'the keeper'.

    After reading the Advanced Rules as a youngster, it appeared to be a more comfortable way of using the keeper, rather than trying to shoot with one hand and hold the rod with the other, and has remained that way ever since.

    The general principals are that keeper may position himself anywhere within his 'box' (the goal area) or attempt to play the ball if it is inside the penalty area, but not both in the same 'turn'.

    If a shot is about to be taken, keeper may only attempt to play the ball if it is nearer to him than to the player who is "shooting".

    When he leaves the goal area, he becomes an ordinary player until the ball is played out of the shooting area, or the attack has had three consecutive plays of the ball.


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. IanNovember 24, 2022 at 7:31 PM

      I've never understood how some solo players manage to handle a normal keeper and shoot at the same, but if anyone can hats off to them. The flicking keeper from what I've seen and heard seems to be used in a variety of ways. I've shared mine, thanks David for sharing yours.

      Delete
  2. RalphDecember 2, 2022 at 11:21 AM

    I’ve always used the keeper on the rod in the normal way .. the trick is not to over-think the shot really. Flicking keepers we’ve never used locally ..

    ReplyDelete
  3. David FDecember 3, 2022 at 9:58 PM

    After all this time, and so many changes in the game, it's good to know that some of the traditional
    practices are still being adhered to, if only in a few places.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Phil Subbuteo Alive and FlickingDecember 11, 2022 at 9:24 AM

    The way I use my flicking keeper both in solo and in two player rules with my mate and son is as follows:

    He is on the pitch at all times in the 6 yard box unless opposition is taking a shot then he is removed and saving keeper is used. In two player this is keeper on a stick, in solo a solo keeper.

    This means with him being on the pitch he is available to be passed to and flicked at the ball in open play but must start from inside the 6 yard box.

    Flicking keeper is also used for taking goal kicks.

    If team keeps possession you can pick him up and put him back in the 6 yard box whenever you like.

    However, if the flicking keeper is used and it results in a loss of possession that stays in play even if from a goal kick then before he can be replaced with the saving keeper he must be flicked back into the 6 yard box. The flicks can be done after each attacking flick.

    Once in the 6 yard box opposition is allowed one more flick before he can be removed and your saving keeper replaces him.

    Also, during these flicking keeper loss of possession moments, if he is outside the 6 yard box, the opposition can shoot from anywhere over the half way line.

    This creates those moments like in real football when keepers are caught out of position and teams go for a long range shot.

    Preferred this over the usual loss of possession by the flicking keeper rule, which states opposition is allowed 3 flicks with one player, then you can remove the flicking keeper no matter where he is on the field.

    With the house rule I/we use, it means if you lose possession with the flicking keeper you have to use your flicking skill to get him back and it creates some exciting moments. Plus just like real football you have to weigh up the risk of the keeper getting involved.

    If the loss of possession involves the ball going out of play then the above doesn't apply and you can just pick the flicking keeper up and put him back in the 6 yard box or replace with saving keeper. As in real football this would result in a keeper being out of position having time to get back too.

    Another rule we have involving the use of the flicking keeper is if the opposition kick the ball into the box and there is no player from attacking team past the shooting line then as the defending team you have the option to flick the keeper from the 6 yard box at the ball and clear it.

    However possession goes to the nearest player when the ball stops including the keeper or to whoever it touched last after the flicking keeper hit the ball.

    If lose possession though then same loss of possession rules apply as before.

    Added this again to mimic real football when a ball is played through/over hit the keeper has to decide do I come for it and clear my area or stay and see what happens. Again you have to weigh up your odds is the risk worth it.

    ReplyDelete

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