Set Plays

Sunday, 08 March 2009 20:36

The Game - Football Strategy, Training and Parenting

It is often mentioned that a large percentage of goals arise from "dead ball" situations. However, many teams do not devote the necessary time and practice in training to improve their set-piece play. This is especially important as these situations arise regularly throughout a match and it makes sense to improve the prospects of making the most of them.

Various advantages such as the opposition being a certain distance away from the ball can give the edge to the attacking team in these situations. Also, striking a motionless ball is technically easier and the attacking team can push many players forward into dangerous positions. It is not only the greater amount of attackers which can make the difference, but set-plays allow players to take up various positions which suit their individual strengths (e.g. tall central defenders positioned at the near-post to flick the ball on).

The greater the time spent practising and rehearsing dead-ball situations, the more fluid and accurate the performance will become. Teams which are well-drilled have usually developed a good level of concentration due to increased discipline as players know exactly what they should be doing. Set plays rarely need to be complex, teams should aim to optimise their timing, accuracy and disguise and capitalise on their own strengths and the opposition's weaknesses respectively.

Although most teams do not deliberately set out to win dangerous set-plays such as corners and free-kicks, positive general play can lead to them to win this type of situations. Putting pressure on defenders can force them into mistakes and give away free-kicks and corners in deep attacking positions. Dribbling at defenders often results in the defender having to put the ball out of play as do balls behind the back line. Likewise, good crosses put defenders under pressure and force them to challenge for the ball and give away corners and throws. Finally, the more a team shoots, the greater the possibility of a set-play resulting from the shot being deflected.

The main aim of practising dead-ball situations is to improve the creation of a scoring opportunity and to increase the team's chances of scoring directly. Training should concentrate on:

Choosing the best possible set-play combination: The team must decide which combination to use, depending on the particular situation and the players available. The specific combination should only require players to concentrate on carrying out the actions practised in training and should always be chosen pre-match.

Specific Training: Players who are to be involved in set-piece play are chosen by the coach for specific training sessions where the moves will be carried out in great detail. These sessions will concentrate on perfecting the timing of player movements in relation to the kick. When rehearsing set-plays, it may be advisable to start off with a few players before building up to playing against defenders. The coach must create interest and encourage players as this type of training can easily result in players becoming bored. Furthermore, avoid set-play training on cold and wet days and make sure that players who are not participating to the session are active elsewhere.

Training the situation in game situations: It is far more easy for players to successfully carry their pre-rehearsed tactics in training than in match conditions. However, through introducing already practised dead-ball situations into training games, the transition can be made easier. Players must learn to adapt in game conditions to concentrating on their specific set-play role i.e. movements and actions. They will also get a better idea of how these situations work in reality.

The coach and players will use this type of practice as a tool to measure the effectiveness of the previous training. The players will be tested on their capacity to choose the right combination, adapt their positions and carry out their own actions.
Finally, coaches should be careful when trying to introduce variety in their set-play situations. The best variety is taking an already successful set-play and varying it (whilst still mastering the basics) to keep opponents guessing. Introducing many different plays can confuse players and make them forget the basics of their play. The set-play situation should above all, be simple and direct.

Between 40 and 50 % of goals and many of which decide the outcome of matches are scored from set-plays such as corners, throw-ins and free-kicks. Two out of the three goals scored by France in the 1998 World Cup final came from well struck pre-rehearsed corners. This should ensure that coaches spend the necessary time practising tactics for these particular situations. The attacking team has many major advantages over the defending team and should make the most of each set-play won. The service must provide along with the arrangement of players the best possible means of scoring or creating chances. The following summarises the factors required in successful attacking set-piece play.

• All attacking players should display strong mental skills: application, discipline, concentration, communication, courage, determination, ability to seize an opportunity...
• Each player must be assigned and know their own role and tasks and apply themselves 100%.
• The coach should plan each set-play practice session with care and observe and analyse the performances of his players.
• All set-play practice sessions should be realistic and include active opposition whenever possible.
• Always make sure everyone is ready before executing a set-play in a match.
• Try to create a visual or verbal code for executing different set-plays.
• Always make the most of the situation by using both physical (e.g. height) and technical (striking a curved shot) advantages. Get players into the penalty area as often as possible.
• Shoot directly and accurately as much as possible and always look for rebounds.
• Try to disrupt the defence in different ways such as disguising your options by using two playmakers on the ball (the defence will not know who will take the kick) and blocking their vision or route to the ball (e.g. standing in front of the goalkeeper or wall).
• Encourage players to create space and play the ball forward whenever possible to test the opposition defence.
• Encourage variety in set-piece play but on an already successful theme (e.g. an in-swinging corner which repeatedly causes problems, instead of playing an outswinger which may relieve pressure, continue with the same tactic but place players in different positions and vary the pace of the ball).