Did you know that during the FIFA World Cup of 2002 in Korea and Japan that nearly half of all the goals scored during the tournament came directly or indirectly from set plays?

There are key characteristics of successful set plays.

Probably the most obvious, and also the starting point, is the delivery of the ball. Players should be coached on how to kick or throw the ball & where and how hard.

Placement and pace are two key ingredients in good deliveries.

The second is the tactical arrangement of the players.

Roles and responsibilities should be predetermined so all the team knows whose running where, at what angles, which areas to exploit and the timing of their runs.

When we mention either directly or indirectly, rebounds and second phase play are equally important. Players should concentrate and be alive to loose clearances.

Keep set plays simple and ensure that everyone knows what the key signals are for each play.

Finally, for set plays to be successful teams should practice until perfect.

Build them into your training sessions and watch with admiration as your team increases its goal tally from set plays.