Soccer Free Kick Question

Finn's Dad

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Hey everyone,

We are getting into the playoffs of the high school season, and the team I coach had a great season. Today, we are working on free kicks and penalties, and while we have a few tricks up our sleeve, I thought about the rules for free kicks and wanted to see if anyone could clarify something for me.

We play a lot of games on football fields, so we can see exactly where 10 yards is located. For a direct free kick in our favor, is it possible to immediately make our own wall in a prime location, 10 yards away? Or does the defense have the right to this area?

I'm thinking that if it's not against the rules, it gives us a clear opportunity to open up the near post for a direct shot. If the opponents setup behind us, that's fine... that moves their wall back a little bit. But I think the confusion could be used to our advantage. What are your thoughts?
 

Omar's Wacky Neighbor

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If you take the time to formally set up, the refs may immediately choose to go from the quick restart to the ceremonial restart (IOW, wait for my whistle).

Seems to me that all the D has to do is infringe on your 10 yards, like by sticking three men a yard in front of your striker. Your striker can then immediately restart (undesirable) or ask for his 10 yards, forcing the ceremonial restart and giving the D your 10 yard position. (your wall could then step in front of the D wall, but that doesnt really get you anything)
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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A lot of clubs, at all levels, will try to put a player at the end of the wall and then have this player move right before the shot. I think that is a fine strategy. Trying to set up your own wall with 3-4 players just seems like asking for trouble. At best, the defense will stand right behind them anyway. More likely, you'll just see a lot of pushing and shoving and most refs will be annoyed and tell your players to move. Also, standing in a wall is not a very good position for most of your players in terms of reacting to rebounds and/or otherwise getting involved in play after a shot.
 

ElcaballitoMVP

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I was going to say that there is probably a rule that the defending team has first right to setup the wall, but I can't find one. If your guys get to the spot first, I don't know if a referee could make them move.

I think the D will likely just setup their own wall right behind yours, so I'm not sure there will be a huge advantage, but you could certainly cause some confusion. You could also try to build a 2nd play off of it. I'm thinking something like:
upload_2017-10-11_14-15-34.png

Get the D going to the near post and try to sneak one of your guys off of the wall to the far post. The last defender on the wall has to decide to stay in the wall or leave to cover the late runner. If he hesitates, you could get a step on him. You still have the option of shooting at the near post if the shot is available.
 

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Finn's Dad

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I was going to say that there is probably a rule that the defending team has first right to setup the wall, but I can't find one. If your guys get to the spot first, I don't know if a referee could make them move.

I think the D will likely just setup their own wall right behind yours, so I'm not sure there will be a huge advantage, but you could certainly cause some confusion. You could also try to build a 2nd play off of it. I'm thinking something like:
View attachment 17888

Get the D going to the near post and try to sneak one of your guys off of the wall to the far post. The last defender on the wall has to decide to stay in the wall or leave to cover the late runner. If he hesitates, you could get a step on him. You still have the option of shooting at the near post if the shot is available.
This is kind of my thinking. It's a high school varsity squad, so the kids are pretty experienced, but... they're also still kids. I'm thinking that this would help with that confusion part. I think I originally got the idea by watching some free kick highlight clips and it looks like some teams had players in a wall, covering the posts. The other team ended up putting a wall in a different spot and they took advantage.

If the ref tells us to "wait for my whistle," then it's pretty much a time to abandon the wall at that point and go to a different approach, because the whole purpose is to cause the confusion. If we can get our team lined up first, then the other team is arguing or complaining about our placement, we take a quick shot. Goalie should be out of position because he's trying to organize his wall, players aren't watching the kicker... that type of thing. If they plant themselves in front of the wall, we say we want 10 and the ref shows them where to stand. We shouldn't be able to be moved from that position, so if they setup behind them we have the option of a trick play (like you described) OR taking the free kick and having our faux wall move out of the way right as the ball is about to be struck.

The more chaos and confusion, the better. Take advantage of the lack of development of the high school brain, especially in a high stakes game like a playoff game, and we could potentially make something happen. We record our games, so if we try it, I'll upload some video of the result.
 

Omar's Wacky Neighbor

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SydneySox

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As a defender I'd be pretty fucking excited to see half the attacking team stand in front of their own striker. Great stuff, less people to mark.
 

robssecondjob

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My sons varsity team pulled a good one on a free kick. Direct kick, attacking, about 20 yards out. Two players ran to the ball and started loudly arguing over who was going to take the kick. While the defenders watched the show a third player ran through and hammered the ball into the net.
 

Omar's Wacky Neighbor

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My sons varsity team pulled a good one on a free kick. Direct kick, attacking, about 20 yards out. Two players ran to the ball and started loudly arguing over who was going to take the kick. While the defenders watched the show a third player ran through and hammered the ball into the net.
A friend uses a similar play in indoor soccer, except one of the arguing kids gets called over to the bench to really draw attention away from the ball.
 

SocrManiac

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The arguing piece has been so rehashed on all the clip sites that it might be stale, even to high school players.

If you have any scouting on the opposing keeper's tendencies, you can make a much better decision. A properly trained kid will set his wall to cover one post, then move to guard the opposite side. Even pro keepers cheat, though- it takes a nontrivial level of discipline to not shade back toward the center of the goal.

The suggestion above of having your guy fasten himself to the post the wall is guarding is a good one, especially if the keeper doesn't cheat toward center. Have him peel off. Your free kick taker should hit a low shot at the post guy in the wall. If he breaks off with the runner, you've got a free shot on net. If not, you've got a good chance at a deflection going to your runner. If the defender doesn't follow, the shot can turn to a weighted through ball.

Testing the discipline of the keeper should be encouraged as well. Even if he manages to stay offset from his wall, he might lean the wrong way. Hitting it into the upper corner he's guarding isn't a bad idea.
 

Humphrey

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In a game last night Walpole High scored against Natick on the opening kickoff.
That's right. Kid kicked the ball downfield, it got caught in the wind and blew over the keeper's head.