By Chris Kouns
USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Women’s Soccer Coach – Georgia Gwinnett College
These set piece options variations of short corner kicks and free kicks from distance that can help your team find more success than just pumping the ball into the box with a longer pass.
General Principles
For these corner kicks and free kicks you will see they rely on the players off the ball “picking” defenders off with their movement. It is important to remember that you cannot actually set a pick in soccer. So, your runs must be natural and you must not “try” to interfere with the defenders movement. These set piece options will also require players on the ball who can read the space that the defenders are giving them so they can make the appropriate adjustments depending on where the defenders might be in relation to the ball.
Coaching Points
- The timing and pace of the ball must be firm and exact. Since you are playing balls that people need to be able to finish off of via one or two touches it is vital that a technical player serve.
- On the set pieces where a shot is called for make sure the person finishing the ball is capable of technically handling balls that may not be perfect. Someone who is able to strike a half volley or adjust their body to finish in all types of positions would be preferred.
- On the corner kicks the players who are on the goal line must work very hard to delay the post players or defenders on the line from getting out to interfere with the player attempting to finish the ball.
- On the long distance set piece the defender who cheats up to help with the overlap should not arrive too early. They want to arrive late, after the defenders are set.
By Chris Kouns: USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Coach Georgia Gwinnet College Women’s Soccer (GA)
