CORNER KICKS: HIGH ALERT

A corner kick in football is a method of restarting play when the ball goes out of bounds over the goal line, last touched by a defending player either on the ground or in the air.

The attacking team is awarded the corner kick, which is taken from the corner arc nearest to where the ball went out of bounds. The primary goal is to create a scoring opportunity, either by directly scoring from the kick or by delivering the ball into a dangerous area for teammates to capitalize on.

Corner kicks are a very good goal-scoring opportunity for your opponent. They give the opponent a free cross without pressure on the shooter. The keeper must be on high alert to quickly and calmly organize his team. Again, the keeper must not waste time disputing the call or arguing with a player. This is the time to concentrate and eliminate the danger of the corner kick. The keeper must ensure that the most vulnerable positions are defended.

An effective strategy is to have players on both posts during a corner kick. Too often, goals are conceded that would have been prevented if players were stationed at either post—-players who could have cleared the ball to safety.

The post players will be most effective if they’re standing with their weaker leg next to the post. In this position, the player’s dominant leg is protecting more of the goal. For example, the player on the goalkeeper’s right would be a left-footer—or at least a player with a strong left foot. This is a small detail that can make a big difference. Poor clearances after corner kicks often lead to goals.

If the post player must clear the ball, the player should use the stronger foot.

The players whom the keeper orders to the posts will not be the biggest, best jumpers. Those players are needed to mark up and battle the attackers. The post players must be alert and have good, quick reactions.

The post players leave their stations only after the ball is cleared and the keeper has given them the instruction to “get out.”

The next area that needs to be covered, or zoned, is the near post at the 6-yard line. Many teams attack this area. Putting a free player in this location helps eliminate this option for the attacking team. This player must be good in the air and must be smart enough to pick up players running in front of him/her.