How to coach free kicks
Score more goals from set pieces
Everyone loves seeing a free kick hit the back of the net. We’ve watched world-class players, like Ronaldo and Messi, David Beckham and Roberto Carlos, do it time and again – and when they aren’t scoring them they’re creating chances from rebounds or crosses. I’ve put some tips together to help your team score more goals from these excellent chances. If you are within 25 yards of goal and central on the pitch, you should be taking a shot at goal.
Have a dedicated free kick taker
Everyone wants to be the one to grab the glory of scoring a wonder-goal from a free kick, but not everyone is capable of it. Your free kick taker should be your best striker of the ball, someone who can combine pace and accuracy consistently. Having a dedicated free kick taker should also stop any arguments on the pitch about who gets to take set pieces.
Think about how you are going to hit the target
Are you going to go over, around, or even under the wall? Will you aim for the far side of the goal, or wrong-foot the goalkeeper by aiming for their side? The most important thing is accuracy – you won’t score if you don’t hit the target – but the shot needs enough pace to beat the keeper too.
Set up a second wall to confuse your opposition
Setting up a second wall can serve as a distraction for the goalkeeper and defenders, as it obstructs their view of the free kick taker and can cause confusion among the marking defenders. If they aren’t concentrating on the free kick taker, they’re less likely to stop them from scoring!
Follow for a rebound
Your attackers who are not taking the free kick should be alert to the possibility of getting a rebound. If the shot is on target and hit with enough pace the goalkeeper is unlikely to catch it, so there’s a good chance one of your attackers will be able to score if they can get to the ball first.
Summary
These tips should help your players score more often from direct free kicks. Next time, we will cover what to do when your free kick is in a wide area, or too far out to shoot.