One term that you hear a lot in the world of soccer is ‘keeping a clean sheet.’
But what exactly does it mean? Why is it important? And how do you keep a clean sheet in soccer?
We answer all of these questions and more in this article as we take a deep dive into how to shut your opponents out in soccer.
What is a clean sheet in soccer?
A clean sheet in soccer is when a team doesn’t concede a goal. If both teams keep a clean sheet, the match will end 0-0, and it won’t be overly entertaining for supporters! Sometimes, coaches tweak the tactics of their approach to play for a clean sheet, while other times, a clean sheet is kept as a result of skill and luck. To help you fully understand the term clean sheet in soccer, we explain it in detail in the following sections.
Where does the term ‘clean sheet’ come from?
Historically, sports reporters used to keep soccer scores using pencil and paper. They would sit in the stands and write out the details of the teams and keep a note of who scores and when.
If neither team had scored at the end of the game, the reporters would be left with a clean sheet. Or, in other words, they had nothing to write down!
While very few sports reporters keep score in this way today, the term has stuck! For example, you will often hear sports commentators referring to a clean sheet in soccer as one of the most important things a team can aim for, as we explain below.
Why is keeping a clean sheet important?
A clean sheet in soccer is important because if you don’t concede a goal, you can’t lose the match! At the very least, you will be guaranteed one point. If your team manages to score at least one goal at the other end, you will walk away with all three points.
Many managers and coaches believe that keeping clean sheets is the foundation of their team’s success. If you’re able to build a strong defense and your players are organized, it makes things so much easier out on the pitch.
Teams that leak goals left, right, and center will struggle to win matches, as they need to try and outscore the opposition. The most successful teams are always those with the most clean sheets, as illustrated by stats from the Premier League.
Goalkeepers with the most EPL clean sheets of all time
To show you just how important keeping a clean sheet is, here is a list of the goalkeepers with the most PL clean sheets of all time. We’re sure you recognize lots of these names!
| Player | Nationality | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|
| Petr Cech | Czech Republic | 202 |
| David James | England | 169 |
| Mark Schwarzer | Australia | 151 |
| David Seaman | England | 141 |
| Nigel Martyn | England | 137 |
| Pepe Reina | Spain | 136 |
| Brad Friedel | United States | 132 |
| Tim Howard | United States | 132 |
| Edwin van der Sar | Netherlands | 132 |
| Peter Schmeichel | Denmark | 128 |
| David De Gea | Spain | 127 |
We find it quite incredible that USMNT legends Tim Howard and Brad Friedel finished their EPL careers with precisely the same number of clean sheets!
Something worth noting is that all of the above players played most of their clubs at the top clubs in the league – Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham, for instance.
All of these teams are renowned for their defensive abilities, which is why their goalkeepers have such good clean sheet statistics.
Who gets the credit for a clean sheet in soccer?
Keeping a clean sheet is easier said than done, and when a team achieves it, credit is due right throughout the team. Sometimes, the goalkeeper gets the credit for pulling off some miraculous saves. Other times, the defense is credited with shutting the opposition out with blocks and a lot of last-ditch defending!
But in reality, every single player on the pitch is responsible for delivering a clean sheet in soccer. The strikers have to work hard to shut the ball down in the opposition half, the wingers have to track back, and all the defenders have to work as a unit.
The same is true for the coaches. The manager is the one that selected the tactics to contain the other team’s attack, and the defensive and set-play coaches drilled the team throughout the week to defend well.
Ultimately, keeping a clean sheet in soccer is very much a team effort, and you should praise everyone if your team keeps the score to zero!
Do you get any extra points for a clean sheet in soccer?
You don’t get any extra points for a clean sheet in soccer. So while it might be nice to be awarded points for a shut-out, this isn’t the case. The soccer points scoring system is super simple to understand – you receive one point for a draw and three points for a win.
You still only receive one point if you draw 0-0, 2-2, or 5-5. It’s not like other sports where you are awarded bonuses for scoring more goals or shutting the other team out.
Honestly, if you were awarded extra points for keeping a clean sheet in soccer, we think many coaches would employ negative tactics to try and suppress the opposition. While it might work, it would make soccer pretty dull for spectators!
Keen to learn more about how soccer points are awarded? Read our detailed article on how point scoring works in soccer.
How do you keep a clean sheet in soccer? (Five Tips)
So, now that we’ve looked at what a clean sheet is and why it’s important, we now want to explain how to keep a clean sheet in soccer. Here are five tips you need to think about:
Set the right tactics
If you know your upcoming game is against a tough team that is free-scoring, you might want to change your tactical setup to mitigate the threat. Tactics like 5-3-2 or 4-1-4-1 are ideal when you know your backs will be up against the wall.
Essentially, 5-3-2 means you start with five defenders, three midfielders, and two attackers. 4-1-4-1 sets you up with four defenders, one defensive midfielder, four midfielders, and one attacker.
While they might sound negative, they will make life much more difficult for your opponents and will help you to stifle their attacks. Therefore, choosing the right tactics is the first and most crucial step towards keeping a clean sheet in soccer.
Train your defense
It’s not enough to sit back and keep as many players behind the ball as you can. Instead, you need to train your defense to hold their shape and minimize the opportunities for the attackers.
Although you might not think it, soccer is very tactical, and players’ spatial awareness is super important. In addition, the defense is often referred to as a unit because each player needs to work in tandem.
If you have one or two players out of sync, it will ruin your whole defensive setup. Needless to say, this will make it much more challenging to keep a clean sheet in soccer.
Recruit a good goalkeeper
Sometimes in amateur soccer, teams put their worst outfield player in goal! But, of course, this makes no sense at all to us.
The goalkeeper is a specialist position and requires a broad range of unique traits and attributes that are not required to play in the outfield.
If you want to keep a clean sheet, you need to recruit a goalkeeper who has the required skill set to stop the ball going in the net. If you just use one of your outfield substitutes, you don’t stand much chance!
Practice defending set-pieces
Research has shown that 30-40% of goals scored in soccer come from set-pieces. In other words, one in every three goals you concede will be scored from a corner, free kick, or penalty.
Instead of just loading the penalty box and hoping for the best, you need to practice defending set-pieces. There are many ways to do it, and most teams employ a man-for-man approach or a zonal technique.
Either way, make sure you practice out on the training ground before matchday comes around, or you will find yourselves particularly vulnerable to your opponents’ set-piece routines!
Be disciplined
Indiscipline on the soccer field is one of the biggest threats to your clean sheet. If your players lose their concentration or make a mistake, you’re much more likely to concede.
Equally, you need to make sure you don’t pick up too many yellow or even red cards. These put your team on edge and under even more pressure.
You will find that teams that consistently keep clean sheets in soccer are disciplined, well-drilled, and hard working. You need to emulate this if you want to keep the ball out of the back of your net.
The verdict: Keeping a clean sheet in soccer
As you can see, there’s a lot to think about in terms of keeping a clean sheet in soccer! But doing so is crucial if you want to build a winning team.
The key takeaway from this article is that a clean sheet means you don’t concede a goal. Teams that keep them are disciplined, organized, and hard-working.
If you’re looking to tighten things up at the back, get your team together on the training field and practice your tactics and set pieces.
Hopefully, this will help you keep the opposing score to zero and focus your efforts on scoring at the other end.
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