How to zonal mark from a corner

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Iain Dowie, Crystal Palace manager in the 2004/05 Premier League, explains how to zonal mark effectively from defensive corners

Zonal Marking. Some managers swear by it. Others blame it for every goal that's ever been conceded from a corner. But do you really know how to put a zonal marking plan into operation? And what are the do's and don'ts to make sure you get it right?

"It’s called zonal marking because you have to imagine the area is divided into segments, with players on the defending team responsible for one of these segments," says goal-grabber turned gaffer, Iain Dowie, who's seen the system from both sides of the fence. 

"If each player marshals his segment or ‘zone’ properly, technically, you shouldn’t concede." 

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Check out the video to see how to do it.

Also see:
Iain Dowie: Defending with 10 men
Iain Dowie: Building a good vocal unit
Playing as a target man: the essentials
Positive mental attitude
Dealing with disappointment


 

Andrew Murray

Andrew Murray is an award-winning writer, columnist and editor, voted the Consumer Journalist of the Year at the 2015 PPA New Talent Awards. A fluent Spanish speaker and former semi-professional footballer, he was senior staff writer at FourFourTwo from 2012 to 2019, interviewing the biggest names in the game from Lionel Messi (twice), Neymar and Luis Suarez, to Sergio Aguero, Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah for the cover, among others. He continues to write and edit for the brand on a regular basis, plus national newspapers, websites, the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and Premier League clubs. He is not a famous tennis player.