14 No. 34 – August / September 2009

Set-plays:

Understanding the roles and responsibilities

15No. 34 – August / September 2009

Tactics: Set-plays

Set Pieces are an important element in any team's ability toscore from the opportunities provided by corner kicks and freekicks. A large portion of goals in professional matches are sco-red from set plays. However, many teams do not devote the ne-cessary time and practice in training to improve their set-plays.This is especially important as these situations arise regularlythroughout a match and it makes sense to improve the pros-pects of making the most of them.

By: Andrew Blight

In a sample of 202 goals from 109 matches, Hughes (1990)found that 92 goals were scored from set plays or immediatelyfrom regained possession following a clearance from set plays.Furthermore, 89 % of these set plays were awarded after 5consecutive passes or less. On average, there are 26 set playsper game in the attacking third of the field i.e. 9 corners, 12 throw-ins, 5 free-kicks. Generally, the higher the standard of competitionthe more important set plays are in providing goal-scoringopportunities. This is illustrated by the data below from the 1994World Cup.

Goals from Set Plays 1994 World Cup

All teams 66 goals(47% of total)

Brazil 6 goals(55% of total)

Free-Kicks 27 2

Corners 9 1

Throws 15 2

Penalties 15 1

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Tactics: Set-plays

In the 1966, 70, 74, 82, 86, 90, and 98 World Cup finals at leastone goal arising from a set-play situation was scored in the finalmatch.

From the above data, it is imperative a team spends a lot of timeworking on set plays. It is vital that your organisation is plannedand everyone in the squad understands their roles andresponsibility. I would probably spend a little more time defensivelythan attacking in order to be difficult to score against.

When the ball is out of play and your team has possession you arein control of the game and dictate what happens next. Thegroundwork for successful set plays is carried out on the trainingground. Set play practice should be kept fresh for the players andcan be often coached during a match-play practice as opposed toa separate entity where players can switch off mentally.

Key Principles for Defending Set playsThere are 3 general strategies you can utilise for defending set-plays:• Man-man• Zonal• Semi-zonalGenerally, I tend to use semi-zonal (although this can vary with thetype of opposition) where we have some players marking man-manand others zonally placed to cover spaces.

• Key Requirements for Defending Set plays➢ Communication- understanding role and policy➢ Concentration- mentally aware and switched on➢ Organisation- setting up the defensive strategy quickly➢ Courage- players being brave and physically strong➢ Selection of players- prioritising roles for specific positions➢ Secondary possession- adjust and re-adjust! Push up towards

where the ball is cleared (not straight out!) and stay together asa unit/line.

Key Principles for Attacking Set plays• Delivery of the ball- the quality of striking a dead-ball into the

right area is key. From wide areas, this is often executed withpace and whip on the ball into the second six yard box area.➢ Target: area of delivery➢ Type: whip, float, chip➢ Technique: in/out-swing➢ Mentality: Players mentally prepared before execution

• Good Organisation- positioning and movement of players toaffect the opposition within a key area.➢ Who: mental/physical attributes➢ Where: reason, arrangement➢ When: time factor➢ Why: end product

17No. 34 – August / September 2009

• Disguise- doing something different (can be organised orspontaneous) which results in moving opposing defenders outof set positions E.g. short corner taken quickly. Quick free-kicksare taken with the idea to-

➢ Produce a strike➢ Create a chance➢ Produce an unexpected attack➢ Resume play quicker than expectedFor this to happen, there must be early options ahead of the ball

e.g. behind the defence, inside the defence and the opportunityto attack the defence centrally and from wide positions.

• Several Options- providing an element of change during thecourse of a game to keep the defenders second guessing at setplays.

• Secondary Opportunities- second phase possession in andaround the penalty box.

Ultimately, the player delivering the ball is the crucial ingredientbecause delivery has to be accurate and at the right paceotherwise things can fall down.

Counter Attacks from Set PlaysIt is evident, set plays clearly provide a positive opportunity toscore for the team in possession. However, teams at elite levelsnow see the opportunity to counter attack and make quicktransitions from defending positions to attacking with speed. Arecent example was in the Champions league semi-final (Arsenalv Man Utd first leg) Van der Sar collects a cross, distributes theball to Park who combines with Rooney, and Ronaldo finishes. Thiswas a prime example of Arsenal moving defensive players intoattacking positions and Man Utd exploiting an undermanneddefence through regaining possession quickly and then playing atpace with limited touches on the football.

The potential for scoring this way has become a strategy for teamsin recent years and coaches are now equally concerned about theconsequence of committing numbers at attacking set plays and arepositioning defensive players accordingly to deal with this threat.

Tactics: Set-plays

Defending Corners (diagram 1)Four players are in zonal positions (1 at each post, 1 in the ‘hole’several yards out and in front of the front post and one centrally onthe edge of the six yard box. Four further players are allocatedman-man defending duties inside the penalty box with two on theedge of the 18 yard box ready to defend secondary possessionand counter-attack if we secure the ball.

Important points to consider:- Distances between defenders important- Body shape of defenders should be open and looking diagonally

across to view runs of attackers

Attacking Corners (diagram 2)This shows typical set-up for an in-swinging attacking corner. Thetarget area for delivery is depicted by the shaded area. Front postplayer makes a ‘dummy’ run towards the player taking the corner,this will drag a defender out of position and create some space in theshaded area. One player positioned inside six yard box around theGK making it difficult for GK and to potentially score from loose ball.

Three players inside the penalty box making attacking runs fromdeep and across into specific areas to attack the ball. The other 4players are strategically positioned to pick up secondarypossession and safety to guard against the counter-attack.

Attacking Short Corn(diagram 3)ersVery similar to the above, but ‘dummy’ runner receives short balland sets back to player taking the corner at an angle and deliveryis now to the back post (target/shaded area). One player stillsituated around GK and 3 players making attacking runs from deepand across. The central player of the three however, checks outand attacks the target area near the back post.

Defending Free-kick area (diagram 4)Two players are situated in the wall close together. Player in thewall is prepared for any ‘dummy’ over the ball! Only one defenderneeded in the wall if only player over the ball at the free-kick. Theother players are set up in 2 banks of four with a front and backline. The concept being on the nearest player to the ball applyingpressure. Defending players should adopt an open body positionand have the mentality of being ‘first to the ball!’The GKs position should be taken off the first bank of four and notbe too deep!

Attacking Free-kick Centrally (diagram 5)Consider whether to drive the free-kick with pace and power or canyou get it up and over the wall? Attackers in the wall arestrategically placed and look to use their body to open updefenders and space in the wall. Attackers on the outside makeruns across to pick up any secondary opportunities.

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Tactics: Set-plays

Diagram 1

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Diagram 5