One of the things that sets soccer apart from other major American sports is its relentless pace. Baseball and football move in measured steps while basketball and hockey go end-to-end but still pause play and the clock for resets with regularity. Once the whistle blows to start a half, the clock never stops in soccer, even when the play does. Within those stoppages, there’s plenty of wiggle room, with players trying to speed up the restart when they need a goal or delaying when they’re ahead. The games unyieldingly kinetic character means that set pieces — plays run off of throw-ins, indirect and direct free kicks, and corner kicks — offer a rare chance to move players in precise ways, and head coaches are beginning to take greater advantage of them.
Understanding the Game: Set Pieces
