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PlayDiagram

Free kick

Free kick

Show the ball, the wall and the run. A free kick diagram fails when the restart mark is missing.

Show the ball, the wall and the run. A free kick diagram fails when the restart mark is missing.

Direct or laid off

A direct kick is one arrow toward goal. A layoff is a short pass, then a cross or a shot from the second player. Pick one and put it in the title.

The blocking run

Attackers can cross in front of the ball to hold defenders. Draw that line before the shot. Keep the line short so it does not look like a pass.

The wall

Place the defensive wall if you are coaching both sides. Your own taker still needs a mark for the far-post runner. Save the attacking version and the defending version separately.

Frequently asked questions

How do you diagram a direct free kick?

Mark the ball, the taker and the wall, then the run that attacks the near post or the cut-back. If the kick is laid off, draw that one pass before the shot.

What is the difference between a direct free kick and a layoff?

A direct kick is a shot or a cross from the dead ball. A layoff is a short pass to a second player who shoots or crosses. Save them as two plays if you use both.

How do you show the defensive wall on a free kick?

Place the wall between the ball and the goal and note how many players stand in it. Your attacking routine and the opponent’s wall can sit on the same board.