A disguised attacking free kick. The taker runs up as if to shoot but slips it to a teammate on the edge of the box. A player hiding at the wall peels around the back of it into the space behind, takes a first-time pass and shoots, while a wide midfielder decoy run drags a defender away.
Mid (U9 to U13)Older (U14 to U18)Attacking playShooting & finishingPassing & receiving
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In play
The setup
Step by step
1
The free kick taker feeds it in to the player on the edge of the box, running up like a normal free kick, disguising this.
2
The wide midfielder makes a decoy run forward, then back out, taking out the defender.
3
The player on the left edge of the wall peels out and rounds the back of the wall.
4
The player on the edge of the box, first time, passes into the space behind the wall.
5
The player in on goal takes a shot.
Age group
Mid (U9 to U13), Older (U14 to U18)
Duration
Rehearse in a short block, around 10-15 mins.
Players
8+ - a taker, a receiver on the edge of the box, the runner tucked at the wall, a wide decoy midfielder, plus a keeper and defenders to work against.
Area
Attacking third, a free kick just outside the penalty area.
Equipment
A ball, a keeper, and bibs or mannequins for the defensive wall.
FA Four Corners: what this develops
Technical / TacticalPsychologicalPhysicalSocial
Objective
Manufacture a clean shooting chance from a free kick through disguise and a run off the back of the wall, instead of a direct shot at the wall.
Set up
A free kick just outside the box. A defensive wall is set on the edge of the area, with one of our players tucked in at the left edge of it. The taker runs up as normal to disguise the move; a teammate waits on the edge of the box to take the feed, and a wide midfielder starts out on the left for the decoy run.
Coaching points
Disguise it: the taker runs up exactly like a normal free kick so the feed is a surprise.
Sell the decoy: the wide midfielder run has to look like the real threat to take his marker out.
Time the peel around the wall to arrive as the pass is played, not before.
First time on the edge of the box: set the runner into the space behind the wall before the defence recovers.
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