Transition Free Kick Zone Practice

Objective

• -Practise deliveries and strikes from set positions
• -Decide between shooting and delivering
• -Rehearse the routine with a wall in place

Setup

1. 1Three marked free kick zones around the edge of the area with a pole wall in a 38 x 34 yards area.
2. 2Mark a second target area at the opposite end so the practice can flip direction instantly.
3. 3Balls at each zone, poles for the wall, keeper in goal.

How to play

1. 1Take three kicks from each zone in turn.
2. 2Central zones are struck at goal, wide zones are delivered.
3. 3Runners attack every delivery.
4. 4Coach serves a loose ball into the middle and both teams react to win it.
5. 5On every turnover the winning team has six seconds to attack the opposite target.

Progressions

• +Cut the counter window to four seconds
• +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

• -Freeze the play for two seconds after each turnover to reset shape
• -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

• -Coach can serve a second ball to force an instant re-transition
• -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

• -Blasting every free kick
• -No runners on the delivery
• -Stopping to appeal instead of reacting to the turnover