Crossing the Soccer Ball-Set Plays
Corner kicks, or free kicks from a wide area are important scoring opportunities for a soccer team. These set plays allow you to crowd the opposing area with a number of bodies, providing a crosser with more targets than he would have in regular play.
It is typical for a set piece to have up to 6 attacking runners in the penalty area, and sometimes more depending on the game situations. Decide on your soccer team which players you want to go up for an attacking set play, and you must explain this clearly to players. If you win a corner in a game with young soccer players, they will not automatically know to join the attack, and you could end up with a corner being kicked in to two forwards against a host of defenders. Choose between the following players to join the attack at a corner;
Central defenders – Teams will send one or both central defenders forward to join the attack at a corner. English Premier League players like John Terry and Thomas Vermaelen score a consistent number of goals even as defenders from joining the attack at set plays. Bear in mind you should always keep one or two players back at set plays, as you do not want to be exposed on the counter attack, with one long clearance sending an opponent clear onto your goal.
Full backs – Typically, full backs are among the speediest defenders and are left back to prevent your soccer team being caught on the counter attack. If your full backs do join the attack, you may want to leave one central defender back to cover. One use of full backs at a corner, is to have them make a late run towards the ball, if they are not picked up by the opposition then a short ball can allow them to dribble in to goal or cross from a potentially more dangerous angle.
