It is very important that your team is capable of defending corners. If your team doesn’t know how to properly defend a corner, you will be at the risk of conceding a goal every time your team gives up a corner.
There are two primary styles of defending corners: man marking and zone marking. Both can be effective if executed properly. It will be up to your team to determine which system you are more comfortable with. Personally, I prefer a combination of zone and man marking.
I will now discuss each system in a little more depth:
Man Marking – fairly self-explanatory, each player on your team matches up with a player on the other team. It is your duty as a defender to not let your man get to the soccer ball first. Sometimes you may have more defenders than the opposition has attackers in the box. This will leave some of the free players on your team to mark space and focus on getting the soccer ball out of danger.
Defending Tip #1 – Stay goal side!
In order to make it more difficult for your opponent, stay between him and your net at all times. If you let your mark get ahead of you, he will be much more likely to score. Always, stay goal side!
Zone Marking – instead of marking a man, players mark a specific area. As a defender it is your job to win the soccer ball and clear it out of danger if it comes into your zone. It is very important that you try to meet the soccer ball in the air, instead of letting it come to you. Go to the ball and clear it out of danger.
In each of these systems there should always be two free players who stand on the inside of the goal posts. Some managers argue against this idea and suggest they should help in marking players. But when an opposing attacker meets a will driven corner with a header or shot on goal, the ball is coming from such a close distance it is very difficult for the goalkeeper to react in time. These players on the post will help the goalkeeper and make it more difficult for the opposition to score.
Defending Tip #2 – Hug the post.
If you find yourself marking one of the posts during a corner stay on your toes. It is your job to help defend the goal. Stay on your toes and be prepared for action. You will be called into action more times than you might think. Plus, if the ball gets past you on your post, your goalkeeper won’t let you hear the end of it.
Sometimes a team will elect to take a short corner (make a short pass into the play, instead of a long pass into the box). In this instance, your team will have to adjust accordingly and close down the opposition. At this point the back line can move up (players on the posts also) and use the offside trap to your advantage. Don’t rely on the offside trap to save you though, clear the soccer ball from danger whenever possible.
Becoming good at defending corners, takes practices. Take the time to work on corners with your team and you will reap the benefits.
It is important to leave at least one, possibly two players higher up the field. This forces your opponents to defend you. It keeps more opposing players out of your attacking third, and gives your team an outlet when they gain possession of the soccer ball.
Whichever system your team decides to play with, remember to attack the soccer ball, stay goal side of your man, and be prepared for action at all time. The ability to defend corners is an essential part of becoming a strong defensive soccer team.
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Comments
Powered by Facebook Comments