Set-Piece Roundtable: Discussing The Various Techniques And Strategies Of Screens

Set pieces are becoming increasingly important, attracting the attention of coaches, analysts and fans worldwide.

This has led to the emergence of several concepts related to blocking or hindering the opponent: the “block” and the “screen”. 

Here, we define each term:

1) The block involves an attacking player positioning himself to block a defender, such as a zonal defender, to prevent him from getting out to reach the ball in the targeted area; it can also involve blocking the goalkeeper to stop him from claiming the ball before it reaches the target area or to delay his reaction.

2) The screen involves an attacking player obstructing, or at least disrupting, the man marker assigned to the targeted player to free him, similar to what occurs in basketball.

This previous article was an analysis to discuss the block in both forms: the zonal defender and the goalkeeper. 

This article will explore the screen and how to do this effectively without fouling.

As a coach or analyst, you may have asked one of your players to perform a screen, only to fail and allow the defender to escape.

Alternatively, the screen might have been too obvious, resulting in a foul being called, especially since referees have started to show greater strictness regarding this issue. 

These steps are very important, especially since we don’t all play in the Premier League, where more conflicts are allowed. 

Referees have even become more aware of this trick in the Premier League.

In this tactical analysis, we will discuss the various techniques and strategies for executing the screen effectively while simultaneously avoiding fouls.

The Normal Screen In Set-Pieces

The usual screen is done by asking a player to go directly to disrupt the man marker of the targeted player.

Germany did that in the previous Euros against Denmark, leading to a goal being disallowed. 

The obvious screen caused a foul.

As shown below, Nico Schlotterbeck (blue) is marked, so Joshua Kimmich (green) goes to block his marker to free him. 

This is a screen.

In the photo below, the screen performs well, but it is so obvious that it is called a foul.

This is what we mean when we say the screen can only be effective if done subtly, avoiding a foul.