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Teaching Basic Restarts In football, the ball goes out of play, a free kick is awarded or a goal is scored. In each situation, play has to be restarted appropriately. When this happens, will your players know what to do?   Too often, we see Special Olympics players who have not been taught how to react in these situations. Oftentimes, the coach has to yell directions, or the referee feels compelled to provide instruction. Special Olympics players of all levels can learn basic restarts and, in doing so, become more accomplished players and a more effective team. One of the most impressive things to a spectator is a Special Olympics team that knows how to restart play with minimal prompting. Coaches need to provide a few minutes are every practice scrimmage to teach restarts.   Some Guidelines to Increase Your Success Keep all explanations simple. Do not provide multiple options for restarts until one basic play has been completely mastered. Use simple, concrete key words that are easy to remember and can be used as prompts when necessary during competition play. In competition play, when restart is needed, only use players who can restart play correctly. If a player has not mastered this skill, work on this in practice.     The Kickoff At the beginning of the game, or after a goal is scored, the game is restarted with a kickoff. After a goal, the kickoff is taken by the team that conceded the goal.   The ball is placed on the center spot. Two players from the attacking team stand next to the ball. The defending team must move back at least to the edge of the center circle until the ball is played. One player passes the ball to the other and the game commences. The ball must be passed forward and must travel at least one revolution.   Basic Tactics The player to whom the ball is passed can dribble forward, pass to a wing or pass back to a teammate. Lower ability teams are encouraged to dribble forward. Higher ability teams can pass the ball back to a defender and then build up from there after drawing the other team forward.   Key Words Two Players Forward Pass     The Goal Kick (11-a-Side) or Goalkeeper Clearance (5-a-Side) When the attacking team plays the ball over the opponent's end line, a goal kick (or goalkeeper clearance) is awarded to the defending team.   In 11-a-side, the game is restarted by the goalkeeper, who places the ball inside the goal box on the side of the field where the ball went out and kicks the ball up field. The ball must clear the penalty area. If it does not, the kick is retaken.   In 5-a-side, the ball is thrown back into play no further than the halfway line. If the ball is thrown further than the halfway line without touching any player, a free kick is awarded to the opposing team anywhere on the halfway line.   Basic Tactics The goal kick (clearance) should be taken quickly, before the opposing team regroups. It is usually better to clear the ball to the wings rather than up the middle. Defenders and midfielders should be encouraged to quickly run wide to receive the ball.   Key Words Play It Quickly Look Wide     The Corner Kick When the defending team kicks the ball over its own end line, a corner kick is awarded to the attacking team. The play is restarted by a player on the attacking team kicking the ball from inside the corner arc on the side of the field where the ball went out. Defenders must be at least 10 yards from the ball (5 yards in 5-a-side).   Basic Tactics The player taking the kick can either kick the ball, usually in the air, toward the area in front of the goal or play a short pass to a teammate, who can then dribble towards the goal and shoot (a short corner). A short corner is particularly effective in 11-a-side where a team does not have a player who can kick the ball into the goal area.   Key Words Kick To The Middle Attackers In Front Of Goal     The Free Kick When a foul is committed, a free kick is awarded. Serious fouls (i.e., tripping, pushing and hand ball) result in a direct free kick, where the player taking the kick can score directly from the free kick. Lesser fouls (i.e., obstruction, dangerous play) result in an indirect free kick where the ball must be played by more than one player before a goal is scored. Defenders must be at least 10 yards from the ball (5 yards in 5-a-side).   Basic Tactics If the ball is close to the opponents' penalty area, the best tactic is usually to try a direct shot. From further away from the goal, the player simply passes the ball up field to a teammate. From an indirect free kick close to the opponents' penalty area, one teammate can pass the ball lightly to another teammate who then shoots.   Defending a Free Kick If the attacking team is close enough to get a good shot on goal, the defending team should make a defensive wall to try and block the shot. In 11-a-side, the wall is usually made up of three to four players, standing 10 yards away from the ball. In 5-a-side, the wall is usually made up of one to two players, standing 5 yards away from the ball.   Key Words Shoot — for direct kick Pass First — for indirect kick Make A Wall — defending     Throw-In (11-A-Side) or Kick-In (5-A-Side) When a player plays the ball over the sideline, a throw-in/kick-in is awarded to the other team. A throw-in is taken with two hands, from behind the sideline, with both feet on the ground and the ball thrown in one motion from behind the head. An improper throw-in — usually caused by lifting the feet — results in the throw-in being turned over to the other team.   Basic Tactics Same as in a free kick, take the throw-in quickly. Throw up field whenever possible. The thrower immediately supports the player who receives the throw and is available for a return pass. A kick-in is simply a pass taken from the sideline. Defenders must retire at least 5 yards.   Key Words Quick Throw/Kick Up Field

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