The Coaches' Room
11v11U14Out of Possession

We defend the corner and then lose the second phase every time

Asked by Jamo1
756 views 2 replies
First ball is usually fine. The problem is the clearance lands 25 yards out, our whole team stays in the box and the opposition recycle it straight back in. I think we are treating 'corner defended' as the first header rather than the next 10 seconds. Who should actually be responsible for getting us out?

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VERIFIED COACH RESPONSE

UEFA A Coach

11v11 matchday • performance

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I agree with your diagnosis: defending the first header is not the end of the set piece. Before the corner is taken, I want one or two players responsible for what happens outside the box. One may be your striker or wide player positioned to pressure the clearance receiver, with another ready to squeeze onto the second ball. The back line also has to come out together once the ball is cleared. If six players remain on the six-yard line, the opposition have time to recycle. I’d practise second phases deliberately. Start with a corner, then have a coach feed a second ball to the edge or wide area whether the first delivery is cleared or not. The target is not sprinting out blindly. Can the first player pressure the receiver while the rest of the team moves the line away from goal? A set piece often lasts 15–20 seconds longer than the first contact. Coach that whole period.

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

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T

tom_84

Community Member

A lot of goals after corners come from the next cross because the defence never resets. The first clearance can actually create a worse delivery if nobody gets out.
B

BrokenUmbrella

Coach

We nominate the 8 to get us out. First clearance happens, he immediately steps towards the receiver and the back line follows. Stopped everyone camping in the six-yard box.