Indirect Free Kick — Dummy and Shoot

◆Why this drill works

The indirect free kick is awarded constantly in grassroots football. Most teams have no rehearsed routine. This drill installs two routines — direct shot and dummy-and-shoot — so the team always executes with intent. Having two named options ready means the team never has to invent a plan under pressure at the exact moment the referee blows the whistle, which is when panic and poor decisions usually creep in. The convincing dummy run is the hardest part to coach: players need to genuinely commit to the fake movement, including eye contact and body shape, or the defending wall reads the real ball-striker immediately and the whole routine loses its value.

◇Variations and progressions

• Third player option — add a third attacker who can also receive a short lay-off, giving the team a third live option if the wall reads the first two.
• Disguised eye contact — the first player looks deliberately at the second player before running over the ball, rehearsing a visual disguise that sells the dummy even harder.
• Reverse routine — swap which player strikes and which dummies each rep, so both players are comfortable in either role during a match.
• Wall reaction drill — have the wall players guess which routine is coming and reward the attacking pair extra points for scoring against a wall that has "read" the wrong option.

▦The drill in three phases

▶How to run it

1. Place ball at various angles: 25 yards central, 20 yards left, 22 yards right.
2. Routine A: First player drives at wall's side. Second player redirects into far corner.
3. Routine B: First player runs over the ball. Second player shoots first-time from behind.
4. Set up a 4-player wall at 9.15m using cones. Practise wall organisation before each rep.
5. Add passive GK. Strikers must aim away from GK starting position.

✓Equipment checklist

• Balls6Buy →
• Cones12Buy →
• Bibs10

✦Coaching points