Coaching Articles

There are many ways to defend corner kicks. In this discussion we will focus on two common methods.

The first method is to place one player on the near post and one player on the far post, and then three players on the top of the 6-yard line. One of the players on the 6-yard line should be positioned even with the near post, one positioned even with the far post, and one positioned even with the center of the goal.

The idea behind a counter-attack is to quickly transition your offense and attack when the other team gives away possession in the midfield or when they are attacking. When a team is attacking, defensive players will tend to be further up the field than usual helping the attack, and may not be able to quickly adjust defensively.

Although thousands of coaches in the United States carry some form of a USSF coaching license, not too many youth players or parents understand what exactly this license represents. For almost 40 years the USSF, or U.S. Soccer Federation as it is more commonly known, has been responsible for certifying and licensing soccer coaches of all levels.

When players are young they should be encouraged to play many different positions. This gives them a chance to figure out which position they like and which position they are best suited for. It also helps players understand the responsibilities and hopefully an appreciation of that specific position. As players get older they will naturally drift to a specific position based on the players' mental and physical abilities.