How to Defend a Corner Kick in Soccer
Thirty percent of goals in soccer are scored off of set pieces. It is more important to know how defend set pieces--especially corner kicks--than ever before.Here is the best way to successfully defend a corner and possibly set up a long counter strike.Remember that the goalie must take charge in this situation. It is the responsibility of the goalkeeper to make sure all these steps are followed.
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Instructions
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Posts: The very first thing a goalie needs to do is put someone on the near post. Many keepers have a defender they put on the near post every time. Either way, within 5 seconds of the referee signaling a corner, the near post should be defended.After that, the keeper should put someone on the far post.
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Marking: Every single offensive player within 20 yards of the goal must be covered. Straight man-to-man is the only way to defend this many people in this small of a space, and the defensive player must be on the goal side of the player he is marking--no questions asked.
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Leave the sweeper free: The sweeper, or center back, must only mark if absolutely necessary. Even have the strikers come back to mark up before the sweeper marks someone. The sweeper's job is to get to the ball and get his head on it. He can also pick up any offensive player that breaks free of his mark.
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Runs from far away: Even the offensive players that are further than 20 yards away need to be watched. Whoever is responsible for them must mark them, but don't follow them out farther than 20 yards. Have the defender stand at the top of the goal area, and only pick up one of the far-out players if he starts to charge in.There is no reason for a defender to be 25 or 30 yards from the goal where the player he is marking poses no threat. Wait to see if the offensive player comes in.
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If there is still an extra person, mark the short pass: Not all corner kicks are crosses. If there is a free defensive player--aside from the sweeper--then have him stand in the corner to defense any possible short pass.It will be rare that you'll have this luxury, but it's a good way to force offense to do something they don't want to.
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Get to everything first: Once the ball is kicked, the goalie should expect to get to any ball within reach. Every other defender should bee standing in the way of their mark, to slow his run down as much as possible. The defender should use his hands and hips to force the offensive player off his run.As soon as the ball gets close to the defender, get a head on it. The quickest way to end the threat of a corner kick is to head it clear, so it goes over all the defensive players.
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Clear the box: As soon as the ball is out of the box, every defensive player should too. In case your team does not retain possession, you don't want to leave any offensive players onside.
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Tips & Warnings
The goalie needs to make sure he's calm in this situation. He'll have to bark out a lot of instructions in a very short period of time.
Work on this in practice when possible. Even something as complicated as this can become second nature with enough practice.
