Defending Corner Kicks: With the referee awarding a corner kick the first thing that should happen is the communication and organization by the goalkeeper while at the same time watching the ball and the keeping themselves prepared for a quick kick.
The organization should be centered around making sure that the Defending players are set up zonal. A few keys to organization that should be considered are:
- ) GK should be slightly turned at a 45 degree angle to the ball, just behind the midline of the goal line, watching ball and area in front of goal.
- ) GK’s call should be made prior to the ball crossing the near post
- ) GK’s call should be AWAY or KEEPER
- ) Players, as pre-determined by coach, should be posted to the near and far posts
- ) Post players should be inside of the post on the goal line
Corner Kicks – Zone.
- Outside Midfielders on the post; one near and one far.
○ Outside Midfielders leave the post for two reasons:
Keeper comes off his/her line to make a catch or save. If this happens, both players slide in two yards. They become responsible for four yards each inside the goal.
- The ball is cleared away from danger (debatable topic). Keeper commands “Away” and “Step” for pulling up or condensing the field.
- One player placed in front of the six yard box. His/her responsibility is to imagine a mini goal six yards by six feet. Any ball in this area is “away”.
- Three players across the six yard line: one on the near post, one on the far post and one in the middle. These are preferably your best players in the air.
- Three players across the eight, directly out from the three players on the six yard line.
- The last player is in on top of the box….the “bullet man”, tenacious and fearless.
- On short kicks, the high near corner man pressures the ball along with the top of the box defender.
- If you are not involved in the heading, you are shielding your man from any rebounds or challenges by “boxing out”. Stay engaged until the team is out of danger.
Goalkeeping Matters 