Defending corner kicks in the English Premier League: near-post guard systems. (4th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pulling, Craig; Newton, Jay
• Is Part Of: International journal of performance analysis in sport. Volume 17:Number 3(2017)
• Page Start: 283
• Page End: 292
• Publication Date: 2017-05-04
• Subjects: Tactics -- strategy -- coaching -- set play -- set piece -- performance analysis; Sports sciences -- Periodicals; Sports -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; 796.015
• DOI: 10.1080/24748668.2017.1331577
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2474-8668

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the use of near-post guard systems when defending corner kicks in the English Premier League during the 2015/2016 season. A total of 750 corner kicks from 79 English Premier League matches were analysed. There were a total of eight different near-post guard systems observed. Only six corner kicks (0.8%) were observed where there was no guard positioned in the near-post area when defending corner kicks. The one-one system only conceded one goal from 148 corner kicks (0.7%) observed, whereas the one-zero system conceded 8 goals from 159 corner kicks (5.0%) observed. However, when all attempts at goal were included, there was no significant association between the different near-post guard systems and the number of attempts at goal ( p > 0.05). An important finding was that there were 236 defensive clearances performed by the guards from the 750 corner kicks that were analysed (31.5%), this suggests that these defensive players play an important role in preventing the attacking team from having an attempt at goal from a corner kick. Further research on corner kicks is still required and suggestions have been made for future investigations.