PositioningRepresentativeTactics
Positioning for the direct free-kick wall
Position on the direct free-kick to protect the open side while the wall covers its side — combines set-piece positioning and angle bisection, two thin topics.
Choose a session and the exercise is added to today’s plan.
Load
- minutes
- 14
- dives/set
- 2
- Sets and reps
- 3 × 4
- Intensity
- Medium
dives per set, per goalkeeper
Microcycle days it fits
MD-3, MD-2, MD-1
Each bar’s height is that day’s dive ceiling.
Setup
- Goalkeepers
- 1
- server
- 1
- outfield player
- 4
Space: 26 × 22 m
Equipment: Balls, Full goal, Poles, Bibs
The coach serves and manages the breaks.
1 steps
Direct free-kicks with a wall set up. The goalkeeper stands on the open side of the goal, letting the wall cover its side, and adjusts position to the free-kick angle.
Exercise sequence
Coaching points
- The wall covers one side; the goalkeeper stands to defend the open side, slightly toward it from centre.
- See the ball over or beside the wall, adjusting half a step so as not to be blind.
- On the central free-kick, the wall blocks more goal; on the angled one, the goalkeeper covers more of the open side.
- Weight forward and feet alive: the direct free-kick demands an instant reaction to the ball over or around the wall.
Progressions
- Angled free-kick.
- More spin over the wall.
Regressions
- Central free-kick with a wide wall.
- Lower the shot speed.