Futbol Island

11v11 lesson · Intermediate

Wide Free Kick: Release the Wall at the Right Time

At a free kick the wall waits ten yards away (Law 13). Once a short kick moves, one wall player presses while everyone else keeps their job.

What the coach says

  1. At this wide free kick, your two wall players protect the direct crossing route. They must stay the required distance away until the kick is taken.
  2. Five markers stay goal-side of five separate box runners. Those jobs continue even if Blue chooses a short restart.
  3. An edge guard protects the top of the box, a short-option guard protects inside, and an outlet stays higher. The goalkeeper organizes behind them.
  4. The taker plays short and the ball clearly moves. The near wall player may now approach the receiver, while the short-option guard keeps the inside route covered.
  5. The short kick is now in play. Your teammate protects the inside route. What should the near wall player do?
  6. One wall player closes the short receiver. The other protects the original crossing route, and the inside guard stays separate rather than joining the same pressure.
  7. The receiver carries inside, where the short-option guard can take over. The taker moves outside for a return, creating a different job for the wall player.
  8. The inside guard can press the carrier and the taker is available outside. Which job should you take now?
  9. The wall player covers the outside return as the inside guard approaches the carrier. The edge guard stays beneath them, so three defenders keep three separate jobs.

Quiz questions

Try to answer before you read the coach’s explanation. On the island you answer each one on the pitch.

  1. Question 1

    The short kick is now in play. Your teammate protects the inside route. What should the near wall player do?

    • Close the short receiver
    • Stay on the old wall line

    Coach’s explanation: The ball has legally moved and the old wall line no longer pressures it. Approach the receiver while the short guard protects inside and the five markers stay with their runners.

  2. Question 2

    The inside guard can press the carrier and the taker is available outside. Which job should you take now?

    • Cover the outside return
    • Join the inside press

    Coach’s explanation: Your teammate now handles the carrier. Taking the return route shares the two threats while the rest of the restart defense stays organized.

  3. Question 3

    True or false? Your wall players may rush the taker before the free kick is taken.

    • False
    • True

    Coach’s explanation: It's false. The wall stays ten yards (about nine metres) away until the ball is kicked and clearly moves.

  4. Question 4

    Blue plays the free kick short. Put your wall's jobs in order, first to last.

    • Near wall player closes the receiver
    • Taker plays short, ball moves
    • Wall player covers the outside return
    • Wall stays the required distance

    Coach’s explanation: Hold the distance, wait for the ball to move, close the receiver, then cover the return.

  5. Question 5

    One wall player closes the short receiver. The other wall player is hidden. Tap where they stay.

    • Chase the taker
    • Join the press on the receiver
    • Protect the crossing route

    Coach’s explanation: One wall player presses and the other protects the crossing route, so each job stays covered.

Play it on the island