Coach Houseman's Soccer Site: Tactics

Defending The Corner Kick

The corner kick is a great scoring opportunity for us as well as the other team. In 2014 we got burned a number of times trying to defend this free kick

First, let’s review the rules of a corner kick.

A corner kick is given if we put the ball out over our own end line.
It is a direct free kick. The ball does not have to be touched by another player to score.
The defending team must stand at least 10 yards from the ball.
Similar to any other free kick, you don’t have to wait for the referee’s whistle to begin play (exceptions – penalty kick and kick off at the center circle). Also, the kicker can’t touch the ball a second until another player does so from either team. What would happen if the corner kick hit the near post and came back to the kicker for another try?
Similar to a throw in, there are no offside on a corner kick. However, once the ball is played, offside is enforced.
Once kicked, the ball is considered out of bounds when it crosses the end line either on the ground or in the air. This is important when kicking an “out-swinger” – curving the ball away from the goal.

Click on the soccer field below left to enlarge.

This is an illustration of the blue team defending a corner kick taken from the red team’s right corner. Here are the responsibilities of each player on the blue team.

Left Back – She sets up on the edge of the penalty box to block the shot. Rarely does this happens but her positioning is important for 2 reasons.

She makes the kick more difficult since she is standing in direct line between the ball and the goal.
She becomes a crucial defender if the red team decides to take a short corner (see glossary).

Sweeper – She guards the near post.

Right Back – She guards the far post.

Goalie – She positions herself in the middle of the goal. She is also the quarterback adjusting marking assignments based on where the red team is standing. If she decides to make a play for the ball, it’s critical that she let’s everyone know this by shouting.

Center Back – She sets up between the goal box and the penalty spot – a critical scoring area.

Midfielders – They will position along the 18 yard line (edge of the penalty box) and generally mark up on our opponents midfielders. This becomes critical on an “out swinger” or if the ball comes back out after the initial kick.

Attackers – They mark up on our opponents defenders and hopefully will receive the ball for a counter attack. In this illustration, we’re not paying any attention to the red team’s left back. She’s too far away from the corner kick to be a factor.

Striker – She has no marking assignment positioning herself barely onside – even with the last red defender. If the entire red team (except the goalie) was on the attacking half of the field, then our striker would be standing on the center line hoping for a break away.

Summary

A corner kick is a set play – the attacking team can arrange their players in a predetermined fashion to score a goal. Similarly, our defense needs to have a predetermined formula to counter it. Although corner kicks come in many “shapes and sizes” (e.g. the short corner), our back line (goalie, sweeper, and 3 backs) sets up the same way regardless. As you know, the United States Women’s team has scored often via the corner kick especially with a great server like Megan Rapinoe and header like Abby Wambach.

Goal Kick

When the ball crosses the goal line, the defending team is given a free kick from anywhere within the 6 yard goal box. Here are some basic rules of the goal kick.

All opponents must stand outside of the 18 yard penalty box.
The ball must exit the penalty box before any player touches the ball.
The kicking team does not have to wait for the referee to blow his/her whistle.
Any player on the attacking team can take the kick.

Please click the soccer field below right to enlarge it.

Since the goal kick represents a change of ball possession, the blue team should take the kick ASAP. It’s a counter attack. Don’t let your opponents regroup and mark up. Also, the blue team is on the attack and should get into their attacking diamond shape – wide and high. Here’s how I’d like us to set up in the 4-3-3 goal kick.

Goalie – She takes the kick in the middle of the goal box to give her the option of going either to the right or left diamond. Remember the concept of Ball Flow (right margin). Don’t try to go up the middle in your own end of the field. Many times it will result in a goal for the other team.
Sweeper and Center Back – They set up their defense along the outer edge of the penalty box.
Center Mid – Although the ball will not be kicked to her, she is the quarterback on the attack setting up all 3 diamonds.
Right and Left Backs – They stand along the side edges of the penalty box to receive a short kick.
Right and Left Midfielders – They stand along each sideline stretching the field wide.
Right and Right Attackers – They stand at the top of the right and left diamonds stretching the field high.
Striker – As always, she stands barely onside at the top of the center diamond.

After we move quickly to our positions, the goalie has the following 3 options.

Option #1 – Kick the ball to either the right or left attacker – go high. If this is not available, go to the next option.
Option #2 – Kick the ball to either the right or left midfielder – go wide. If this is not available, go to your last option.
Option #3 – Kick the ball to either the right or left back – go safe.

Once the kick is successfully made, we can now advance the ball down the field via our right or left diamond. Eventually, we will play the ball to our center diamond to score.

Note - If someone other than the goalie takes the kick (sweeper or center back), then the center midfielder must take a more defensive role until we successfully possess the ball.

Video Pic - Hope Solo taking a goal kick.

Throw In

Early in my soccer career, the only player who could touch the ball with his/her hands was the goalie. A ball replayed from the sidelines was kicked – not thrown. Of course that was in the days of black and white TVs, outdoor milk boxes, and sandlot soccer. Now we throw rather than kick the ball in from the sidelines. Let’s review the basic rules of this set piece.

The player must bring the ball directly behind his/her head with both hands and face the intended target as the ball is released.
Both feet must remain on the ground and off the playing field.
A referee’s whistle is not necessary to start play.

As in any set play, we should have a game plan as to who takes the throw and what everyone else should do. A throw in is a great time to reset your attacking shape – the diamond. Therefore, I prefer having the wing midfielders take the throws since their “diamond position” is on or near the sidelines. As always, the player with the ball has 3 passing options. Click the soccer field below left to enlarge.

Best Option - Throw forward to the wing attacker. If she is tightly marked, throw the ball up the sidelines into open space.
Next Option - Throw across to the center mid who will look to pass the ball forward to either the wing attacker or center striker.
If the first 2 options are not available, throw backwards to the wing defensive back.

An important thing to keep in mind is to take the throw in as quickly as possible. Many times it’s a counterattack situation – don’t give your opponents time to get organized and mark up. Also, if the ball is deep in our own end (from the 18 yard line to the goal line – penalty box), let the wing back take the throw in. Likewise, if the ball is near our opponents goal (their penalty box), let the wing attacker take the throw in similar to a corner kick.

Summary

A throw in is a set piece like a goal kick or corner kick. Get into attacking shape quickly before your opponents can set up their defense. It can be a great opportunity to move the ball up the field and score.

Video

Here is a brief video clip by Eric Vogel on the proper technique of a throw in.

Soccer Throw In