Set-piece coaching

With Everton's inability to score many goals from open play, we have relied on free-kicks and corners to get a large percentage of our goals. However, with teams getting cleverer from set-pieces, it is worrying that Everton are starting to concede more from set-pieces and seem to have run out of ideas on how to profit from our own.

So I asked the question: What do set-piece coaches do? And here is the answer I got:-

What a Set-Piece Coach Actually Does

A set-piece coach is a specialist in football who focuses on optimising a team’s performance during dead-ball situations — corners, free-kicks, throw-ins, and sometimes kick-offs — both in attack and defence. In modern football, these moments can be decisive, with some teams scoring a large percentage of goals from set pieces

Core Responsibilities

1. Opponent Analysis. 

Before each match, the set-piece coach studies the opposition’s set-piece tendencies: 

How they mark (zonally, man-to-man, or hybrid)
Where they defend and who their aerial threats are
How quickly they recover after the first contact or second ball. This analysis helps identify exploitable spaces and vulnerabilities.

2. Routine Design.

Based on the opponent’s setup, the coach designs tailored routines for attacking set pieces: 

Specific player roles (screeners, blockers, finishers, rebound collectors) 
Timing and positioning to create overloads or free up a target 
Multiple pre-designed plays (often 15–20) to choose from depending on match context 

 Defensive routines are equally detailed, ensuring every player knows their reference points and responsibilities.

3. Player Positioning and Signalling

The coach assigns starting positions and run patterns for each player, often using a “signalling system” similar to a quarterback in American Football, so players know exactly where to be and when to move.

4. Rehearsal & Execution

Routines are practised repeatedly in training until they become automatic. This includes:

Timing movements to the second
Using video replay to correct angles and pace
Ensuring players are ready for matchday execution

5. Defensive Organisation

They also train the team to defend set pieces effectively, organising marking systems and ensuring players cover their zones.

6. Continuous Improvement

The set-piece coach reviews match footage to identify areas for improvement and develops new routines to exploit emerging weaknesses

Why It Matters

In elite football, set pieces can be a major source of goals — Arsenal, for example, scored half their goals from set pieces last season under Nicolas Jover. A dedicated set-piece coach can turn these moments into consistent scoring opportunities, sometimes generating more expected goals from set pieces than from open play.

In short, a set-piece coach is both a tactical designer and a performance engineer, turning the most controlled moments of the game into strategic advantages.

---

Now as far as Everton go, I have seen little sign of innovation or variety in our set-piece approach, as overseen by Dave Reddington, and I was surprised to learn we had just renewed his contract.

He was officially appointed to the permanent role in August 2026 ahead of the new Premier League season, having initially been brought in on a short-term basis during the final month of the previous campaign.

Reddington took over the responsibilities following the departure of Charlie Adam, who previously served as the club's set-piece coach following David Moyes's return. Prior to joining Everton's first-team backroom staff, Reddington held coaching positions at Crystal Palace, Danish side AGF Fodbold, and AFC Wimbledon.

Reader Comments (1)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer ()

How to get rid of these ads and support TW

---