Defending Corner Kicks

I watched a youth team practicing corner kicks at training last week and it looked slow and pretty much hit and miss with the only instruction being bellowed out into the night "get up to the ball"!

Defending Corner Kicks

Sam Snow
Apr 19 2010, 12:00 AM
http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/Blog.asp?post_id=1020
Sam Snow is the Senior Assistant Technical Director for US Youth Soccer.

Recently, a coach of elite female players asked these questions of several colleagues looking for thoughts and ideas…

1. In the women's game, what is your strategy and organization for defending corner kicks?

2. What are your favorite activity/activities to introduce these ideas and concepts?


I replied that whether the team is female or male, one factor in defending against corner kicks that I see as a problem is the body posture of the defenders. Most players tend to stand with their hips squarely facing the ball. As the ball comes into the penalty area they are not in a good body posture to play a good ball out so that their clearance could become an outlet pass. This poor body posture often leads to bad tactical positioning too as they cannot see opponents or teammates behind them. Consequently, proper adjustments to their own positioning based on the movement, or lack thereof, by other players are not made.

I teach players to stand with their hips one quarter open to the field. In this way they can see the corner arc and the ball, as well as up field to see the movement of other players. Then, if they have the chance to connect with the ball, they should play the ball out in a manner that may help their own team start the counterattack.

Of course, being on their toes and alert mentally has a lot to offer here too.

As to training activities specifically on this matter, I simply play on a short field so we get more chances at corners and then emphasize the whole bit on hips and toes.