Corner Kick Practice #1: 4 in Attack vs GK

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1 Work on Re-starts: Corners, Free Kicks & Practice Ideas The importance of taking and defending corners and free-kicks are critical, as goals from these situations make up 25 percent or more of the goals scored in a season. During elimination play, they are even more critical, as they often are the difference between advancing or being eliminated. This month, we look at increasing opportunities to execute well-principled taking and defending in each important re-start situation. Corner Kick Practice #1: 4 in Attack vs GK The White team takes corner kicks from the left flank. The Red team will alternate, taking their corners from the right. Four to six players attack the corner each time (diagram shows the White team taking with four players making near-post, mid-goal, far-post and holding runs). After each serve and finishing attempt, the White moves quickly back to a resting position and the Red team attacks the goal from the other side. Each team has a goalkeeper who rotates in to defend each kick. This practice should be fast-paced and each team should take 10 kicks a side and change. The service is important: driven with in-swing or out-swing. The runs must get into the key areas (n.post, m.goal and f.post). There should be a player holding at the top of the box, adjusting to a redirected ball that might come out of the original serve. Runs should be labeled (Black for n.post, Blue for m. goal, Red for f.post and players should be in sync with each other to arrive at the right time. As this practice becomes routine, twists to each kick can be added (short corner, GK screen, pop a n.post run to the ball and play short and long, etc).

2 Corner Kick Practice #2: 4 versus 4 Match-up This practice extends Corner Kick Practice #1 by having one team attack the other and alternate kicks from each flank. The 4v4 match-up simulates the importance of the essentials: good service, well-timed runs, deception and 1v1 matchups to create first ball" and "second ball" opportunities. Defending comes into play, too: where to begin a marking line, how to mark as the attacking player moves, how to keep marking when being blocked by attacking cross-over runs and challenging defenders and the goalkeeper to deal with the service. The attacking team (Whites) should take 10 serves per side and then switch roles with the Red team. The non-working goalkeeper should be a target for the defense to play to (the blue GK in the diagram above). Good service is now more important as each attacking player battles a defender to get across the face of the defender or pull away to get space to finish. Each defender has to take up a good starting position so that when the player being marked arrives in a given space and the serve arrives, the ball can be won. Goalkeepers must take up good, balanced starting positions and make the important decision to come and win the serve or stay and hold. The shout of KEEPER or AWAY! comes in to play here. As the practice moves along, additional players can be added: the short corner, zonal defending around the GK and at the near post. Every serve should be played through to a conclusion: the defense should play out to target GK or play wide out of danger.

3 Free Kick Practice #1: Skeleton Work Red team and White team have key personnel work on striking the ball around the edges of a wall (diagram shows a Red kicker swerving ball around the inside wall player of the White team onto goal). The Red kicker takes three free kicks in a row and then the White kicker on the other side takes three kicks. Wall players being used will form the inside and outside of the wall and service is focused on getting over and around the wall players. Goalkeepers defend the goal by positioning themselves to the inside of the wall (responsible for the middle- and far-post areas as a priority). The balance of the team plays a possession game as the free kick practice builds; players from the possession game can be added to offer options on the ball and as targets as the practice progresses. Kickers should rotate sides (may need a personnel change after serves. Players taking kicks being played around the wall must focus on the key striking points: inside of the instep and outside half of ball. Servers may need to be rotated in so free kicks that start out going away from goal and then come back towards goal can be executed based on what is on. As the practice develops, players can be brought in to "cue" indirect kicks (ball played from one player to another to create service on goal), to play balls over wall to finisher at the back post and to execute trickery by having attacking players in the wall roll off to be a part of the play. Taking free kicks is not a democratic process where everyone gets a chance. The coach should bring in specific players to execute a specific role to make the play successful this is why the possession game is used to keep all players active while the practice is being developed.

4 Free Kick Practice #2: Building the Practice with Numbers On and Off the Ball This practice extends the organization shown in Free Kick Practice #1 by adding a goal for each team to attack / defend. In the diagram, the Red player uses a partner on the ball (who overlaps) to take a free kick. The kicker approaches the ball and, instead of striking it on goal, plays (pass A) to the overlapping player who crosses (B) to a teammate at the far post who finishes (C). In this practice both teams can work at the same time and more repetitions can be taken. After 6-10 minutes of practice on one side, teams should change to the opposite side of the goal. Additional attacking and defending players can be added to build up the practice, which can involve all players and a free kick game can be created with fouls being called from a variety of areas on the field. The routine of taking free kicks is important and adding options to surprise or take advantage of what the defense is doing is important to success. Having a plan (use numbers, colors or special names) to label your free kick plays is a great idea: key players on the ball, off the ball, decoys, ball preparation, delivery of service based on each option, etc. When defending these free kicks (add numbers as the practice builds) all players should also have a role: wall player, bullet player (to attack the free kicks), marking off the ball, etc. The goalkeeper must take up a position that covers the middle and the back post, but reacting back to the near post is vital for the goalkeeper.

5 Practice Ideas: Building the Dead Ball Re-start There are times in the run of play where players tune-out in the taking of a throw-in or goal kick, which are common staples in the game. The table below highlights some of the issues observed in recent games and offers suggestion for improvement. Situation Problem Suggestion Throw-in For Throws always go down the line, always to a player that has no space to receive (often standing within a yard or less of the touchline and facing his or her own goal). Throw-in is often played to a receiving player who cannot deal with the throw technically, or played to the other team it s so obvious, the ball is turned over on the throw. Throw-in Against Goal Kick For Goal Kick Against Players defend on wrong side when ball is thrown down the line. Throw-in entry is too easy, not able to be disrupted by the goal-side defender. Inadequate cover on the throw (defense plays too flat can t be offside on a throw). By U-13, the goalkeepers should be able to take their own goal kick. There should be a 10v10 environment for the kick to be played into. Team taking goal kick is too wide, can t win second ball. Kick is played long but to the sideline, making it difficult to keep the ball. Often, the team tunes out and is surprised when the opposing team takes a quick, short goal kick. The defending team does not hunt for the ball out of the air. Players seem overwhelmed in attacking the ball out of the air. Utilize three receiving players to receive ball Set up coordinated movement between the three players so the ball can be kept on the throw-in. The thrower should immediately prepare the ball above his/her head so the ball can be thrown in quickly without fouling the throw. Teach players how to throw the ball into the feet without bouncing it in and teach the thrower to step in and receive the ball from the player who receives at the feet. Have a plan to play out of pressure once the throw goes into play. Get the defending right: First defender on the touchline side (so the ball can be properly challenged; second defender on the inside so the ball can t be played towards goal; third player to front of the receiving player (make it hard to throw an easy re-entry ball into play). Have a plan that helps the receiving team get out of pressure upon winning the ball. Develop the long instep drive of the goalkeeper (work on a little extra extension by contacting the ball off the top of the toecap of the kicking foot while leaning back on the balancing leg when making contact. Create a tight shape to kick ball into; winning the second ball becomes priority; work on the flick on to a player running behind the flick. Have a plan and shape for playing the ball short when it s on. Have forwards and other attacking players immediately face the endline and goal they are attacking and read the body language of the goalkeeper to put pressure on a short goal kick. Identify first- and second-ball winners (midfield and defending players); adjust to the body position of the player taking the kick and adjust during play. Challenge defending players to attack the ball out of the air with heading and volleying and work hard to win the second ball. Involve second and third players around the first attacker.