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Free Kicks Defending (4) – The Wall (a)
- Most students/players of the game will have their ideas on how to line up
a wall of players when the free kick awarded against a defending side is within
shooting distance of the goal.
- But basically the wall is there to prevent the
kicker getting a clear sight of goal for a powerful shot. It also means the
striker of the free kick has to lift the ball over the wall if he intends to score
directly.
- So in the diagram the wall made up of 4 defenders A, B, C and D faces
a free kick from the position marked x – 5 yards outside the penalty area.
(Marked Line 1)
- N.B. ‘A’ lines up just outside the line between the post and
the ball – this is to try and prevent a swerved shot round the outside
of the wall.
- B, C and D line up tight (shoulder to shoulder) standing alongside
A.
- This allows goalkeeper G to stand right of the wall (as he views it) and
yet not stranded on one post – but he needs to see the kicker at point
x. (Marked Line 2)
- As the free kick is taken, the 4 players A, B, C and D must
either stand still and prepare for a confrontation with the ball OR if
they are prepared they could all jump at the same time to add some height to
the wall. The
danger is the ball could then go under the wall, if the free kick is driven.
- The
main thing is to stand together facing the kicker, no breaks in the wall, each
player doing his job to prevent a shot at goal.
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