Tony Carr on Defending Corners

One of the key elements of a defensive strategy for your team is getting your players to know their positions at corners, says Tony Carr, Academy Director at West Ham United.

Key Coaching Tip

The key is concentration and to make sure you are first to the ball!

Using the diagram below show your players the positions for basic marking responsibilities. Some players need to mark man for man, others will need to use zonal marking.

Assuming the corner is being taken on the left by a right footed player swinging the ball in towards the goal, the set up you should employ is as follows:

* Your best four headers of the ball should man to man mark (numbers 3, 5, 6 and 10 in the diagram) and their job is to mark the opposition’s main heading threat, marking slightly in front, and being first to the ball.
* No 11 should mark in front of any opposition standing on the near post or mark the space (zone) in their absence.
* No 4 marks the space in front of the main markers, keeping a look out for any opposition standing in front of the goalkeeper. If this is the case he may have to adjust his position so he is standing in front of the attacker.
* No 2 marks the far post.
* Nos 7 and 8 mark any opposition on the edge of the box.
* No 9 stays up field, occupying two defenders and hoping to help spring a counter attack.