In this blog Mark ***, an FA futsal coach developer, shares how he has explored the significance of set pieces in his coaching.
Developing technique and skill through set pieces
Receiving
With many of the team’s players being new to Futsal their technical executions of actions often revert to their Footballing habits – most notably their receiving skills in using the inside of their feet. Within open play I would suggest this comes from the pressure from opponents and dealing with a fast incoming pass in a tight space, they go back to what they know as safe and the habit of using the inside of feet to receive. This more than often limits their next attacking options instead of using their sole. However, it’s not that they cant use their sole – they can! And within attacking set pieces when a set move is known with a predetermined movement and action that mostly ensures receiving in a known location and level of space, players feel more confident to receive with their sole and practice their technique. The more structured set up and series of actions removes some of the decisions that a player might face in open play based on their perceptions and allows them to focus on executing their receiving techniques and movements.
Passing
This also rings true with passing and shooting techniques. The requirements we as team place on attacking set pieces is that we want an opportunity to shoot within 1 or 2 passes where possible. We aim not to have complex or highly intricate moves, but simple and effective actions that provides a range of good shooting options form limited passes (this will be elaborated on further within coaches section). So whilst the number of passes used is low, they must be of high quality, specifically when considering they will be performed against an organised defensive set up from the opposing team who are ready to pounce with interceptions or tackles on any poorly executed pass.
Attacking set pieces has provided fantastic opportunities to the players to execute an accurate and fast paced pass from a controlled and stable starting point. The decision of what type of pass and where to play is often far less than in open play and provides more focus on the execution of pass for both the taker and subsequent players involved in the actions. Our range of set pieces has also expanded the range of passing techniques to players that they might not feel comfortable to try in open play – primarily the scoop pass and specifically as a disguised parallel pass using the outside of the foot to lift and play a pass down the line from an attacking kick in. What’s been fantastic to see is the high repetition of set piece practices on the more challenging passing techniques showing up within open play attacking actions, for example the above mentioned parallel scoop pass has been applied by a few players during our attacking 3-1 system.
Shooting
Coupled with the improvement of players passing techniques, set pieces have also assisted in improving players shooting and striking techniques – specifically a first-time strike at goal. With an organised defensive structure facing the players, they have realised the need and value in striking first time as any additional touches provides time for their space and shooting line to be closed and blocked. Working alongside the organsied defensive unit, and against the attackers is the goalkeeper who is able to move and adjust their starting position from a stationary ball and relatively comfortable environment of observing attacking players. All with the anticipation that a strike on goal is coming their way. To counter act this prepared state of the goalkeeper, any striker of the ball (specifically ours, as we look to shoot within 1 or 2 passes) must be able to strike the ball with enough power and speed to beat the reactions of the goalkeeper from their set and ready position. Utilisting and practicing attacking corners and high kick-ins has developed the players striking technique with increased power alongside receiving their own instant feedback of combining power with accuracy – shown through the resulting outcome of their shot on goal. Applying a high volume of attacking set pieces practices provides players again with great shooting practices that are realistic to the game.
Movement/ ‘Checking’
Going back a stage and prior to any strike on goal, players also have an additional technique they can practice to counteract the organised and prepared defensive unit – checking! In training and as fellow teammates, players worked out as a consequence of practicing what the calls and various options of where the 1st pass might go and who would be taking the shot on goal. Their ability to predict and anticipate caused tension in the group at times as players accused each other of “cheating” and not defending the situation as an opponent would (unaware of the possible calls and outcomes). This was my opportunity as a coach to add another layer to the players technical development from set-pieces.
We discussed the need for deception and tricking the opponents with our actions during the set up of set pieces, as well as the need to create more space to receive or strike from by fooling the opponents in the seconds (maybe even hundredth of seconds) before carrying out their intend actions. Checking movements or double movements (one move for the defender and then one for yourself) offer deceptions to the opposing players to provide more space and time for execution became really important to us as a team, particularly at our first few away games with the size of the playing courts being smaller than our home venue and what we were used to in training. Its provided players with a basis to begin developing their own perception skills of reading what a defender is wanting to do and an understanding of what movements you can do as an attacker in the short moments before receiving the ball to fool and trick the defender to create an advantage for yourself.
Quick Decisions – It’s a Skill!
Skill is often defined as a player’s ability to choose and perform the correct techniques at the right time. Like most teams, we strive and aim to ensure each set piece call (corner, free kick or kick in) has at least 3 different options from the initial point of taking the set piece. The taker should have 3 choices to play. Selecting which option is the choice of the taker with their decision based on their perception of what they observe in the second (or seconds) before the referee reaches their count of 4. Knowing the various options and executing them with technical precision would have been practiced many times in training, and the many benefits to a players technical development has undoubtedly already been shown. However, for me the most beneficial element and greatest value to a player’s development from set -pieces is for them to develop the skill of choice and decision making in taking set pieces.
Knowing and understating which option to choose and to even greater detail how each option maybe slightly alters with the many variables contributing to a player’s decision (i.e. size of court – width and length, proximity to goal line for a high kick in, distance of 1st defender from taker, distance between defenders, the speed of a defender over 2 to 5 meters, the possible recipients of pass – left or right footed, their speed over 2 to 5 meters and many more). As a consequence of set pieces being designed to provide multiple options there is an increased opportunity for players to select and chose the “right” option to execute. This process of decision making is quickly transferring over to their wider open play attacking game. As we develop our rotations, movements and patterns to maintain possession and unlock deep lying defences there are many choices and options for the player on the ball to choose from within the flow of a game. Having opportunities to practice this skill and decision-making processes from set pieces has been of real value and benefit to players development.
Look out for the following parts to this blog and feel free to ask any questions in the comments as we go.