Annual training plan · U14–U23

Week 43: Defending Set Pieces – Zonal Marking

3 complete training sessions with 12 drills – created by licensed coaches. Open every drill in the easy2coach web app with one click.

This week’s focus

Last training week trained attacking set pieces. In a total of 2 sessions, players learned options and tips for making successful use of free kicks, corners and penalties. This week, set pieces remain the focus. However, the next 3 sessions will work on defending opposition free kicks and corners.

When the ball is in play, practically every team defends zonally. The days of sweepers and man-markers are over. With corners, however, the situation is somewhat different. There, neither zonal nor man-to-man marking has completely prevailed. In addition, many teams defend with a mixture of the two types of marking. For example, 4 players line up across the edge of the six-yard box and 5 players mark their opponents directly.

With free kicks from deep that are not suitable for a direct shot, a typical picture emerges. First, the shout comes from the touchline: “Edge of the box is the line”, and as a result 10–12 players from both teams stand level with the edge of the penalty area and start running towards goal as the ball is struck. This usually leads to very chaotic situations, which can hardly be seen as the ideal way to defend the goal. The defenders have to watch the opponent and the ball while moving backwards. A difficult situation for the defender. In addition, it is hard to defend the ball while running backwards.

A more effective and less chaotic solution is to position the defenders much deeper. But not so deep that your own players could get in the goalkeeper's way. In this case, the players defend the space and in central positions. In practice, this could look like 4 players standing just in front of the six-yard box and 3 more players between the penalty spot and the edge of the penalty area. Now the ball can be defended effectively going forward, and no balls in behind the defence are invited.

The number of players in the wall depends on the number of opponents standing over the ball. If only one taker is at the ball, a 1-man wall is enough. With 2 potential takers, a 2nd player joins the wall. The purpose is that the players can defend with equal numbers if the opponent takes the free kick short.

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

As already mentioned in the introductory text for this training week, there are 3 ways of defending a corner – zonal marking, man-marking and a mixture of these two types of marking. In today's session, the team defends with zonal marking. In practice this could look as follows:

  • 2 centre-backs and 2 full-backs position themselves on the goal area line. The full-backs stand roughly level with the posts.
  • One of the two wide players also positions themselves level with the goal area, but further towards the ball. This player steps in if an opponent comes towards the taker to play the corner short
  • 3 more players are level with the penalty spot
  • 1 player stands level with the edge of the penalty area. This player's task is to defend the cut-back area
  • 1 striker lurks up front, waiting for a counter-attack

Zonal marking offers the following advantages:

  • In the dangerous areas (centrally in front of goal) there is usually a numerical advantage
  • Fewer penalties are conceded through pulling and pushing opponents
  • The defenders less often have to clear the ball while moving backwards
Coaching points for this session
  • In zonal marking, position the tall players who are strong in the air in the central positions wherever possible
  • Be brave and strong in the aerial duel
  • Win the second ball immediately
Drill 1

1 vs 1: Attacker with Back to Goal

15 min12 metres long; the width depends on the number of players
  • On the coach's start signal, several 1 vs 1 situations begin in parallel.
  • The attackers try to dribble through the two blue cones.
  • The defenders try to win the ball in order to then dribble through the yellow cones.
  • The players may only act within their own duel.
  • Once all the duels are finished, attackers and defenders swap roles and the drill starts again from the beginning.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two red, two blue and two yellow cones mark the starting and finishing lines.

Equipment: 6 cones and several balls.

Players: The team is divided evenly into defenders — yellow — and attackers — blue. The attackers position themselves with a ball evenly along the line of the two red cones; one defender each takes up a position behind an attacker.

Coaching points
  • Keep an arm's length of distance.
  • Do not attack the ball too hastily.
  • Watch the position of the ball and do not be distracted by feints.
  • As soon as the attacker tries to turn, attack the ball.
Drill 2

Small-Sided Game 2 vs 2 on Two Goals

25 min25 x 20 metres
  • The coach gives the starting signal with a throw-in.
  • Inside the marked area the game is played 2 vs 2.
  • When the ball goes out of play, the coach brings a new ball into the game.
  • The 2 vs 2 ends after a goal or after two minutes.
  • On the coach's whistle the players change over.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones mark out the playing area and form two cone goals at the sides on the goal line; in addition there are four mini goals.

Equipment: 4 mini goals, 6 cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams; four players from each come onto the playing area through the cone goals at the sides.

Coaching points
  • Defend as a pair and form a staggered set-up in depth: the player near the ball steps out, the player away from the ball covers behind.
Drill 3

Corner

20 min
  • The corners are taken alternately from the right and from the left.
  • The corner is taken on a signal — for example arm up for long, arm down for short.
  • For the short corner the player at the penalty area moves towards the taker, receives a ground pass and lays the ball off first time.
  • This is followed by a long cross to Player C or E.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Penalty area with goal and goalkeeper; the players are set up as shown in the graphic.

Equipment: 1 goal and several balls.

Players: Six attackers and eight defenders, plus a goalkeeper. The attackers stand as follows:

  • Player A at the near corner in the goal area, to flick on short balls.
  • Player B in front of the goalkeeper to cause disruption and to wait for handling errors.
  • Player C at the far corner on the edge of the penalty area, to finish off long balls.
  • Players D and E in the penalty area level with the near and the far post, for headers and shots on goal.
  • Player F about 25 metres out, centrally in front of the goal, to finish off balls that are only cleared a short distance.

The defenders are positioned according to the type of marking chosen.

Coaching points
  • Go into the aerial duel bravely and robustly.
  • Head the ball out of the dangerous zones where possible and do not clear it centrally in front of the goal.
  • After clearing, win the second ball immediately.
Drill 4

5 vs 5 - with Wall Players Dribbling In

25 min
  • The game is played 5 vs 5 with offside.
  • If a wall player receives a pass, that player dribbles into the playing area and the passer takes over that position as wall player.
  • If the ball goes out over the touchline or the goal line, the game restarts with the goalkeeper of the team entitled to it.
  • The teams play in a 2-2-1.
  • Interruptions are avoided: if the ball goes out of play, the next ball is dribbled in immediately.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones mark out the playing area, two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, 6 cones and four to five balls, which are kept ready in the goals.

Players: Two teams of seven players each, marked by colour. Five players per team are in the playing area, two as wall players in the respective attacking third. In addition there are two goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Make sure that the wall players are passed to at every opportunity.
  • Encourage a quick change of players.
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Session 2

4 drills

In the 2nd session, one of the topics will be defending set pieces from the half-space. As with corners, the players will defend zonally. The approach is quite similar. The team tries to create a numerical advantage in the danger zone and, ideally, to contest the aerial duels with a numerical advantage as well.

But even when the space is being defended, a certain amount of attention must still be paid to the opponents. Opponents who make runs to the far post in particular are often overlooked. Because they make their runs on the blind side of all the defenders.

In the last training week, creative approaches were covered for surprising the opponent with rehearsed routines at the team's own set pieces. But the opponent can also be surprised when defending opposition free kicks. A good example of this is springing an offside trap. However, it is a trick that should be used at most once per game, as the opponent could adjust to it.

For this, unlike zonal defending at free kicks, the team defends in a line in front of the penalty area. Shortly before the free-kick taker reaches the ball, the defenders push up and catch the opposing attackers offside. For this trick to work, a clear call must be agreed that the opponent does not recognise and that is unambiguous for all of the team's own players. This could, for example, be the call “mark tight!”.

If the opponent knows about this plan, however, the offside trap can easily be beaten. To do so, 1-2 opponents start their runs in behind from a few metres away from the last line.

Coaching points for this session
  • In the penalty area at least equal numbers or numerical superiority
  • 2 potential takers = 2 players in the wall
  • 1 taker = 1-player wall
  • Try to create numerical superiority in the aerial duels as well
  • Do not obstruct the goalkeeper's area of action
Drill 1

Heading Competition

15 minPenalty area
  • The team-mates stand diagonally opposite each other about nine metres apart.
  • The players take turns heading at goal from the line after a throw.

Variations: Run it as a competition — which team is the first to score 5, 10 or 15 goals?

Equipment & set-up

Equipment: Enough balls and 1 full-size goal; younger players do the drill with foam balls.

Players: Teams of two players each plus one goalkeeper.

Coaching points

Coaching Point

  • Have the drill run as a competition. Which team is the first to score 5, 10 or 15 goals
Drill 2

1 vs 1 After a Pass from the Half-Pitch + Finish

25 minHalf a pitch
  • From the yellow cone a pass is played over 20 metres to the attacker.
  • The attacker takes the ball forward in the stride and goes into the 1 vs 1 from short range.
  • The blue cone serves as a reference point for the full-back, who steps out as the pass is played.
  • The defender closes off the inside lane, drops back slowly and steers the attacker towards the outside.
  • If the attacker manages to break through down the outside lane, a cross is played to the striker running in; the defender tries to prevent this.
  • Alternatively, the attacker may also cut inside and finish.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two cone goals and two starting cones are set up out wide, 25 to 30 metres in front of the goal; cones limit the playing space towards the centre.

Equipment: Cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: One attacker and one defender each, as well as a striker running in; in addition a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • The defender moves out towards the attacker.
  • The defender adjusts the speed in good time.
  • The defender takes up a sideways-on position.
  • The defender offers the outside lane and therefore takes up a position slightly to the inside of the attacker.
  • The defender drops back in order to slow the attacker down.
Drill 3

Free Kick Variation I

20 min
  • Player H strikes the ball with the right foot firmly and with plenty of spin as a half-high or high free kick into the far corner (far post) or into the near corner (near post).
  • The attacking players set off with Player H's backswing.
  • The strikers I and J cross towards the near post and towards the goalkeeper respectively. Striker I also has the option of moving towards the free-kick taker and taking the free kick short.
  • Player C sprints to the near post, Player B runs towards the goal area and the penalty spot, Player G towards the far post.
  • Player A makes an overlapping run around Player H in order to cross or to switch the ball to the other side after a return pass.
  • After each free kick the starting positions are taken up again and the next repetition starts.

Progression: To begin with, rehearse without opponents in order to develop automatic patterns. Later train with opponents and from both sides.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: One half of the pitch with one goal.

Players: The attacking team stands level with the edge of the penalty area.

  • The right wide midfielder H takes up a left-of-centre position to take the free kick. The balls are with this player.
  • The two strikers I and J stand in the penalty area, level with each other between the penalty spot and the edge of the penalty area.
  • The right centre-back C stands centrally and slightly further back between the two strikers.
  • The left centre-back B and the right-sided central midfielder G stand level with the edge of the penalty area, slightly to the right of the penalty arc.
  • The left wide midfielder E stands in the central cut-back area, Player A in the area behind Player H.
  • The right full-back D and the left-sided central midfielder F stand level with the halfway line.

Positions in the basic shape:

  • TW — goalkeeper
  • A — left full-back
  • B — left centre-back
  • C — right centre-back
  • D — right full-back
  • E — left wide midfielder
  • F — left-sided central midfielder
  • G — right-sided central midfielder
  • H — right wide midfielder
  • I — left striker
  • J — right striker
Drill 4

8 vs 8 with Numerical Superiority and Inferiority

30 min
  • The game is played 7 vs 7; in each team's own half it is 4 vs 3.
  • Play is built up through the goalkeeper.
  • The ball may only be played over the halfway line after at least five stations.
  • Only after that is free play in a 7 vs 7 allowed.
  • If the team with fewer players in a half wins the ball, it looks to finish quickly.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area and the halfway line; there are two goals at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of seven players each; in addition two goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Use the size of the playing area.
  • After the pass into the opposition half, push up quickly.

Session 3

4 drills

In this session, alongside defending free kicks and corners, the subsequent launching of counter-attacks will also be practised. This requires clearly defined outlets further forward. That way, the defender or the goalkeeper does not have to think for long about where to play the ball after intercepting it. Once the ball has been played forward, it is important that the whole team pushes up immediately.

On the one hand, to catch the opposing attackers offside if the counter-attack is intercepted, and on the other, to give the advanced players further passing options. This allows the advanced players, with opponents behind them, to hold the ball up, lay it off and look for a run in behind.

When the team has a corner, attention should be paid to having sufficient rest defence in order to prevent counter-attacks as effectively as possible. Having one extra defender can be helpful here. If, for example, the opponent positions 2 attackers on the halfway line for a counter-attack, they can be defended very well with 3 defenders. 2 defenders operate behind the attackers and thus protect the space in behind. The 3rd defender takes up a position in front of the two attackers so that they do not even get to the ball in the first place.

Coaching points for this session

Starting counter-attacks after set pieces:

  • Assign fixed passing options high up the pitch
  • Look to play forward quickly
  • Push up quickly to play opponents offside and to create further passing options

Stopping counter-attacks after set pieces:

  • Rest defence with numerical superiority
  • Drop off quickly or go into counter-pressing
Drill 1

Passing Drill Circle

20 minDepending on the group size and the training objective

The work time is one to two minutes per variation; after that the players from the centre swap with the outside players.

  1. The central player moves towards any outside player and calls for the ball for a one-two; then that player breaks away to another outside player and again calls for the ball for a one-two.
  2. The central player moves towards any outside player, calls for the ball, receives it and turns. This is followed by dribbling at speed over five to six metres with the ball kept close — one touch per step, both feet are trained — and a powerful pass back to the outside player the ball came from. After that the central player immediately turns to another outside player.
  3. As in the second variation, but with a final powerful pass to a different outside player.

Note: If the players take too long in the third variation to find an outside passing option, two to three balls are taken out of the game. The rounds stay short but intensive.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark a circle.

Equipment: Cones and one ball per outside player.

Players: The team is divided into two groups. One group spreads out around the circle, each with a ball, the second group stands inside the circle.

Coaching points
  • Call for the ball verbally.
  • Establish eye contact.
  • Carry out the actions with the ball at a high, match-realistic tempo.
Drill 2

Duel After a Lofted Ball

25 minDouble penalty area
  • Player A plays a diagonal lofted ball to Player B.
  • Player A runs forward and takes up the defending position.
  • Player B controls the ball and dribbles towards Player A; a duel develops.
  • Ideally Player B is able to finish on the goal behind Player A.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones mark out the playing area; two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 6 cones, 2 goals and several balls.

Players: Four groups are formed.

Coaching points
  • Demand a drive towards goal.
  • If an action takes too long, stop the drill.
Drill 3

Counter-Attack After a Corner or Free Kick

25 minFull pitch
  • The drill is always started with a corner or a free kick.
  • After the set piece has been taken, the goalkeeper or a defender starts a counter-attack.
  • The aim is to play a player in behind as directly as possible.
  • This player carries the ball and tries to bring another striker into play with a pass in behind the defence.
  • The players push up to the halfway line at maximum speed.

Variations: After a while, run the drill with two teams. After the ball goes out of play or a goal is scored, play is always restarted with set pieces; give the players enough time to get into position.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: The whole pitch with two goals; the players are set up in their positions.

Equipment: 2 goals and several balls.

Players: One team with goalkeepers; later two teams.

Coaching points

Coaching Points

  • After a while, run the drill with two teams. After the ball goes out of play or a goal is scored, always restart the drill with set pieces. Give the players enough time to get into position
Drill 4

Crossing Competition | Crossing Training

20 min
  • One pair of players from a team starts from the centre and receives a cross that is to be converted.
  • The two players then receive a cross from the other side, which must be finished on the other goal.

Variations:

  • Headed goals count double.
  • Play without a defender; to increase the intensity a defender can intervene.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area and the outer zones; two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams with pairs of players in the centre as well as one crosser each in the wing zone; goalkeepers stand in the goals. An opponent can additionally be positioned in the wing zone.

Coaching points
  • Do not make the run in too early.
  • Move away from the ball.
  • Make the run in diagonally towards the crosser and the goal.
  • The players attack the near post and the far post.
  • The crosses are always played on the move.
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