Question 1

Should I Coach Set Pieces In the Foundation Phase?

Accepted Answer

During the Foundation Phase (ages 8-12 in the UK), we may wish to focus our limited contact time on other areas, such as ball mastery and developing a love for the game.

‘I haven’t coached set pieces too much with Foundation-age players,’ says James Coutts, Coaching Advisor at PDP. ‘But I might go to individual players who like taking free kicks or corners and give them individual tasks. For instance, if there’s a free kick, can they get on it and find a pass straight away? Little things like that can set them up nicely for later on, when they go through the Youth Development Phase and set plays become more important.’

Question 2

How Important are Soccer Set Pieces?

Accepted Answer

‘Set pieces can really tie into your philosophy as a coach,’ says Coutts. ‘It’s interesting in the professional game; you’re starting to see designated set play coaches, and they’re not just covering free kicks and corners, it’s everything.’

‘It’s certainly a big part of the game as players get towards senior football, but where you allocate your time with players still needs consideration,’ says PDP Co-Founder Dave Wright. ‘If you’ve only got one or two sessions per week with a team, you may only have 5-10 minutes to work on this.’

Question 3

Is there Value in Coaching Throw Ins?

Accepted Answer

‘When I was coming through as a player at Bournemouth, throw ins were incredibly important,’ recalls Coutts. ‘Our coach was into statistics and emphasized how often you would win the ball by defending a throw in properly. If the opposition got 15 throw ins a game and we retained the ball on 12 of them, that was 12 more opportunities to build, to potentially get in the final third and score.’

‘So, for us, a goal would be to force the opposition into a long, hopeful throw down the line. I personally place a lot of value in these little details, particularly when you’re playing at higher levels.’

‘That’s a great example of redefining success,’ adds Wright. ‘We know that forcing the opposition long is success for us because we’ll likely win the ball and get a chance to build. That’s a great way to frame it for developing players.’

Question 4

How Do You Coach Free Kicks and Corners?

Accepted Answer

With corner kick plays and free kick set pieces, players must understand what’s expected of them. ‘I’d give them visual aids,’ says Coutts. ‘I’d always go to the set piece takers first, and then we’d relay it to everybody and ensure that we’re all on the same page.’

‘Generally, set plays aren’t the 15 minutes of the session that players look forward to. So, for me, it’s about minimizing the boredom for them while still making sure that we’re organized, that everybody understands their roles.’

Question 5

How Can We Help Players Defend Set Pieces?

Accepted Answer

How we defend set pieces will depend on the age and ability of our players. ‘At senior level, you need to be organized and know what your structure is if you’re defending free kicks or corners,’ says Wright. But in the Foundation Phase, we might simply challenge our players to be alert whenever we concede a set piece.

This also gives us another opportunity to work with the individuals on our team. ‘If you have players within your group who love defending, bring them in,’ advises Coutts. ‘Ask them what their jobs could be, or how they think we could improve when we concede free kicks in certain areas. Open up those conversations. It will help them to feel like they’re owning the process of defending the corner or free kick and you’ll get more buy-in.’

Question 6

What Is the Best Way to Practice Penalties?

Accepted Answer

We often try to give our players experiences that resemble the game of soccer, but this can be difficult when it comes to the pressure of taking penalties. ‘I think we should aim to recreate that feeling without the actual outcome if they miss,’ suggests Coutts. ‘Can we be creative in bringing it into our sessions?’

Wright believes we can: ‘If you’re finishing your session with a small-sided game (or any kind of opposed practice) and it’s a draw, set up a penalty shoot-out. It drives a bit of competition and provides some pressure in front of their teammates.’

‘Another option is to create that scenario on gameday by agreeing with the opposition to have a penalty shootout at the end, regardless of the outcome. There’s no result on the line, but we’re trying to help the kids experience that. That’s something you could run through all age groups.’

Free kick set pieces

Soccer Set Pieces: How Important Are Set Plays in Youth Soccer?

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Free kick set pieces

Soccer Set Pieces: How Important Are Set Plays in Youth Soccer?

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