ChalkTalk

The corner is a common dead ball situation in every match. You must train for this situation with great attention and care so that your team reaches a good level of organization on these set plays. It is very important to have players good at kicking corners that can cross to the center with good precision and suitable force. It is also vital to synchronize the timing of the kick with the runs in the box.

One of the most overlooked defensive responsibilities is keeping good shape when your team is attacking. Maintaining good shape will prevent your team from counter-attacks and make it easier to win balls that are cleared out by the opposition.

For the past few days we have discussed the basics of making play predictable through shifting and communication. Now we are going to discuss how this applies to your line of pressure and team strategy.

Yesterday we discussed the role of the midfielders in making play predictable and how they must work together to be the first line of defense. Now that we have established our second line of defense we need to defenders to shift in position in anticipation of any passes. Just like the forwards and the midfielders, the defenders must work together to limit space and cut down on the passing lanes.