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Practicing the wall kick and free kick is vital in soccer training.

Most coaches will advise defensive players to form a "wall" when the attacking team is poised to take an indirect or direct kick at their goal. Making a wall is a good way to cut down on the chances that the opponent's kick will result in a goal. 

Many times in a free kick situation, the kicker will take a shot on goal and the players in the wall will be on hand to deflect the kick.

Teams only need to make walls when the opposing team is given a free kick in the defensive third of the field-- i.e., if the field were divided into "thirds," the defensive third is the area closest to the goal your team is protecting. Making walls in the middle third is not usually necessary, because the player will not be able to take a shot on goal from that far away. And, of course, if the opposing team is awarded a free kick in your attacking third, your forwards and midfielders better be running back to cover for the change of possession.

Making a wall is fairly simple but needs to be done quickly as soon as the foul is called and the free kick is awarded. Many opponents will recognize that you are making a wall and will hurry to get the ball kicked before the wall is in place.

Have 3-4 defensive players designated as "wall" players. Typically, your tallest and strongest players will be best in the wall. Your defensive stopper or sweeper (whichever player is more accustomed to calling the shots in the defense) should call for a wall if he or she wants one as soon as the foul occurs.

The "wall players" should then line up arm-to-arm ten yards away from where the ball is placed, in between the ball and the goal, to intercept the movement of the ball if indeed the kicker takes a shot on goal with the free kick.

Players should stand close together (arm-in-arm if needed to remind them to stand close). Players may use their arms to protect vulnerable body parts (groin area for boys, chest for girls) and may chose to jump in unison as the ball comes towards them.

If an indirect kick is awarded, players must be aware that the kicker cannot shoot directly at the goal-- the ball must touch another player on either team if a goal is to be awarded. Many teams bypass this by having the original kicker tap it a foot or two to another kicker who takes a shot on goal.

Always ask the referee what type of kick the team was awarded to the wall players can plan accordingly.

After the kick has been taken, the wall players should disband and move to cover their defensive marks. If a player in the wall stops the ball, that player should move the ball out of the defensive third as quickly as possible and the rest of the wall players should push up into the midfield or attacking third.

Practicing the wall situation in practice is a good way to ensure that the wall set-up will go smoothly on the field. Be sure to have a few different players designated as wall players in case of having different players on the field or players spread out in many areas.

All of your players should be prepared to be in a wall if necessary, but having a plan of attack can cut down on confusion in the middle of a fast-paced game

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