The standard defense for a corner is to call almost the entire 11 players back to pick up a player to ensure that they do not have a clear shot on goal. I’ve watched this effect and it reminds me of osmosis: the movement of a high concentration of water to a location of low concentration. Please bear with me as I explain. If you watch that scenario, you will see that the attacking team concentrates in their attacking third of the field. Due to that movement, the defending team quickly scrambles to defend and mark the attacking players. This is a good strategy if you are winning or the score is 0-0 and its not a must win game.
But, think for a minute. I would like to turn that strategy on its head and suggest a more attack-minded approach if your team is losing or in a must-win scenario, such as a tournament playoff match. Instead of pulling all players back to defend, post a player on each post. Have a player marking the penalty spot zone and have players marking the zones at the edge of the six-yard box. That means that 6 players will be actively defending against the corner. You ask, what about the other 5 players? Great question. Two players will be posted approximately 25 yards out from the goal in line with the edge of the 6-yard box. Post 3 players at the half with the middle of the 3 posted at the bottom of the circle.
This is an attack-minded defense. I term this defense the Wolverine: small, but ferocious on the attack. The 6 players in the box must win the ball at all cost. If it comes in their zone, they must win it. Also, they understand to get the ball out to the 5 other players to spur the attack. The opposing coach and team must decide:
- Do we keep 5 players back to defend against the counter-attack by the 5 players.
- If the attacking team does not adjust to the 5 players and commits to the corner, then they run the risk of being outnumbered on the counter.
Six committed players defending against the corner in the 6-yard box causes congestion and limits the attacking space. The shear small size of that area lends to the ability of the 6 players to cover ground and challenge any ball that comes near that zone. Either way, the attacking team will be in turmoil trying to decide what to do. The 5 counter-attack players must be quick and determined to take the ball straight to goal. Their purpose is to overwhelm the opposing team’s defense and to score a goal to equalize or to take the match.
The soccer traditionalist will say that this will never work. The defense will be overwhelmed. But, think of when you were outnumbered on any part of the field and the instant need to do something. The first reaction of the other coach will to tell their players to stay back and defend. The well-practiced plan will be thrown into turmoil because it is expected that the defending team will bring everyone back.
SoccerMist 