Free set-piece guides for football coaches

Practical guides to attacking and defending corners, free kicks, throw-ins, penalties and goal kicks — written for grassroots, amateur and academy coaches.

• How to Score More Goals From Corners: A Coach's Guide — A practical coach's guide to scoring more goals from corners: delivery, target zones, legal blocks, second balls and how to drill it with a small squad.
• The Near-Post Flick-On Corner Routine, Step by Step — Run the near-post flick-on corner step by step: where the flicker stands, the delivery to aim for, the runners to feed and the mistakes that kill it.
• The Back-Post Overload Corner Routine Explained — Overload the back post on corners: how to group your runners, time the late rush, deliver deep and turn a numbers advantage into clear headers at goal.
• Short Corner Routines and When to Use Them — Short corners done right: the two-man and three-man setups, the angles they create, when to use each and the errors that gift away easy counter-attacks.
• Inswinging vs Outswinging Corners: Which to Use — Inswinger or outswinger? Compare what each delivery actually does, which routines suit each, and how to pick the right corner for your players and goal.
• Simple Corner Routines for Youth Teams That Work — Age-appropriate corner routines for youth football: simple patterns, clear single cues and coaching points that still work when delivery is developing.
• The Quick Corner: Scoring Before the Defence Sets — Steal goals with the quick corner: how to spot the trigger, time the runner, choose where to play it and set the simple rules that stop it ever backfiring.
• How to Train Corner Routines in One Session — A ready-to-run session plan for corner routines: delivery work, a slow walk-through, staged defenders, live reps and a game finish in roughly one hour.
• Corner Delivery: Hitting the Right Zones Every Time — Master corner delivery: the key target zones, the flat trajectory that beats keepers, a repeatable technique and simple drills to land the ball on cue.
• Attacking Corner Routines for Small Squads — Corner routines that work with thin squads: low-numbers patterns, dual-purpose roles, fixed defensive cover and how to rehearse them with few players.
• Attacking Corners for 11-a-Side — How to plan attacking corners on a full-size pitch: delivery zones the keeper can't reach, how many bodies to commit, and rest defence against the counter.
• Attacking Corners When Nobody in Your Team Wins Headers — Corner routines for a short team: low deliveries, short-corner overloads and second-ball setups that create chances without contesting a header.
• Attacking Corners for 9-a-Side (U11/U12) — How to score from corners at 9-a-side: pick the delivery your taker can actually hit, attack the near post low, and use short corners properly.
• Attacking Corners for 7-a-Side (U9/U10): Keep It on the Ground — Ground-based corner routines for U9 and U10 7-a-side: the byline cut-back, the near-post drive, how many to commit, and what to do when nobody can cross.
• Attacking Corners Against a Zonal Block — How to break a zonal corner defence: read the block, find the seam, deliver to a spot and time late runs from outside the box. Practical grassroots detail.
• Attacking Corners Against Man-Marking — Beat man-marking at corners with legal screens, crossing runs and stacks that separate the runner from his marker - plus what referees will actually allow.
• Attacking Corners When You Only Train Once a Week — How to pick, teach and keep one attacking corner routine when you only get 90 minutes a week. Ten-minute drills, clear triggers, no wasted training time.
• Attacking Corners in Wind and on a Heavy Pitch — How to take attacking corners when wind and a heavy pitch ruin flighted delivery: driven near-post balls, short corners and a tighter second-ball line.
• Attacking Free-Kick Routines That Actually Work — Simple, repeatable attacking free-kick routines for grassroots and youth teams: clear roles, triggers and decoys you can rehearse in one short session.
• Direct Free-Kick Technique: How to Strike It Cleanly — Coach the direct free-kick cleanly: plant foot, contact point, follow-through and how to choose between a curled and a driven strike over the wall.
• Inswinging Free-Kick Delivery to the Back Post — How to deliver a dangerous in-swinging free-kick to the back post: flight, pace, staggered runners and how to drag the keeper away from their line.
• Free-Kick Routines to Beat or Exploit the Wall — Practical ways to beat the free-kick wall: go over, around or under it, plus moving the wall with a square pass and using a runner through the gap.
• Indirect Free-Kick Routines Just Outside the Box — Indirect free-kick routines for just outside the area: the touch-and-shoot, the layoff, and how to move the wall before the second player strikes.
• Wide Free Kicks: When to Cross and When to Shoot — Decide fast on wide free-kicks: when to cross, when to shoot and when to go short. Simple zone cues for crossing angle, delivery type and runners.
• Free-Kick Decoys and Dummy Runners That Create Space — How decoys and dummy runners create space on attacking free-kicks: who to assign, timing, the step-over dummy and how to sell a fake convincingly.
• Attacking Free Kicks for Youth and Academy Teams — Age-appropriate attacking free-kicks for youth and academy teams: what to keep simple, how to scale distance, rotate takers and avoid over-coaching.
• How to Train Attacking Free Kicks in Limited Time — A practical plan to train attacking free-kicks in limited time: warm-up strikes, build the routine in phases, then add a live wall and a real keeper.
• Edge-of-the-Box Free-Kick Ideas for Amateur Teams — High-percentage edge-of-the-box free-kick ideas for amateur teams: the disguised cut-back, the second-ball gamble, the dink behind the wall and more.
• Why Set Pieces Win Matches (And Where to Focus First) — Set pieces decide tight games more than open play. Learn why dead balls matter for grassroots teams and exactly where a busy coach should focus first.
• Set Pieces for Small Squads: Win With Fewer Bodies — Coaching a thin squad with no subs to spare? Learn set-piece routines and roles built for small teams, so you create chances without tiring your players.
• How to Train Set Pieces With Very Limited Time — One session a week and no time to spare? Use this simple 15-minute set-piece training method to drill routines that actually hold up well on matchday.
• Set-Piece Roles Explained: Who Does What — Confused who should mark, block or attack on a corner? This guide explains every set-piece role in attack and defence so you can assign jobs clearly.
• Tracking Set Pieces: Simple Analytics for Amateur Teams — No analyst, no software needed. Track your set pieces with a simple tally that tells you which routines work, what to fix, and where you concede.
• How to Build a Set-Piece Playbook From Scratch — Starting with nothing? This step-by-step guide helps any coach build a simple, usable set-piece playbook players can actually learn and run on matchday.
• How to Assign Set-Piece Roles to Your Players — Match the right player to the right set-piece job. A practical guide to picking deliverers, targets and markers based on the squad you actually have.
• A Matchday Set-Piece Checklist for Coaches — Don't leave set pieces to chance on game day. A simple before, during and after checklist to make sure your routines and roles are ready every match.
• Set Pieces for Grassroots Coaches: A Starter Guide — New to coaching set pieces? This starter guide covers the essentials grassroots coaches need to create chances and stop conceding cheap, avoidable goals.
• Set Pieces in Youth Football: An Age-by-Age Guide — What set pieces should you coach at each age? An age-by-age guide for youth and academy coaches, from first throw-ins to full attacking routines.
• Attacking vs Defending Set Pieces: Where to Spend Your Time — Limited training time? Learn whether to spend it attacking or defending set pieces, and how to split your sessions for the biggest impact on results.
• Set-Piece Coaching on a Budget (No Analyst, No Kit) — No analyst, no fancy gear, no money? Coach excellent set pieces with cones, a pen and free tools. Practical budget tips for grassroots and amateur coaches.
• How to Get Players to Remember Set-Piece Routines — Players forgetting their runs on matchday? Use these memory methods, naming, visuals and repetition, to make set-piece routines stick under pressure.
• How to Defend Corners: Zonal vs Man-Marking — Compare zonal and man-marking at corners, with clear pros, cons and example setups. Pick the right system for your squad and stop conceding cheap goals.
• How to Defend a Near-Post Corner Every Time — Stop near-post flick-ons and whipped deliveries. Learn who guards the near post, the right body shape, cues to read and fixes for common mistakes.
• Zonal Marking at Corners, Explained Simply — A clear, practical guide to zonal corner defending: which zones to cover, where players should stand, how to attack the ball and the mistakes to avoid.
• Man-to-Man Marking at Corners, Explained — Master man-marking at corners: assigning runners, staying goalside, beating blockers and screens, and the simple cues that stop you losing your man.
• Hybrid Zonal and Man-Marking Corner Systems — Build a hybrid corner defence that zones the dangerous spaces and man-marks the dangerous players. Setups, roles and how to scale it for any squad.
• How to Defend a Short Corner Without Panicking — Short corners pull your shape apart if you react late. Learn who presses, who covers, when to send a second player and how to avoid overcommitting.
• Who to Put on the Posts at Corners (and Why) — Should you post one player or two at corners? Learn exactly who to pick, where they should stand, what they cover and when to leave a post empty.
• Defending Corners With a Small or Weaker Team — Outsize opponents at corners with smart positioning, timing and teamwork. Practical setups for short, physically weaker squads to stop conceding.
• How to Win the Second Ball From Corners Cleanly — The second ball decides corners. Learn where to station players, how to read knock-downs, and how to clear and counter before the next attack arrives.
• Common Corner-Defending Mistakes and How to Fix Them — The recurring errors that cost goals at corners, from ball-watching to unmanned posts, with a simple fix for each one so your team stops conceding.
• Defending Corners in 11-a-Side: How to Set Up Your Box — How to allocate your ten outfield players when defending a corner in 11-a-side: keeper's zone, posts, man markers, short corner and second-ball cover.
• Defending Corners in 9-a-Side — How to defend corners at U11/U12 with eight outfielders: where to stand in a shorter box, what to ask of a keeper who can't claim, and short-corner cover.
• Corners Against a Zonal Defence — How to beat a zonal corner defence: where to land the delivery, which gaps to attack late, how to overload a zone and win the second ball.
• Defending Corners Against Blocks, Screens and Swapped Runs — How to defend corners when the attacking side uses blocks, screens and swapped runs to beat man-marking. Shape, switch calls, and a Tuesday session plan.
• Defending Corners With One Session a Week — Pick one defensive corner system, teach it in ten minutes, and keep it all season. A practical plan for coaches with a single training session a week.
• Defending Corners in 7-a-Side: Set Up for the Ground Ball — How to set up six outfield players against a U9/U10 corner: near-post cover, a ground-first clearance, the short corner and who you leave up the pitch.
• How to Set Up a Defensive Wall at Free Kicks — A step-by-step guide to building a fast, solid free-kick wall: who lines it up, where it stands, how to cover the near post and stop it breaking.
• How Many Players Should Be in the Free-Kick Wall? — Decide wall size by distance and angle: central shots need more bodies, wide angles fewer. A simple framework so you never over- or under-commit the wall.
• The Wall Charger: Closing Down the Free Kick — How to use a charger to pressure free kicks: who breaks, the timing and angle of the run, the offside trap link, and the mistakes that gift easy goals.
• Defending Direct Free Kicks Around the Box — Defend shooting-range free kicks: wall plus keeper positioning, splitting the goal, covering the second ball, and reading whether it's a shot or a play.
• Defending Wide Free Kicks and Crosses Into the Box — Defend wide free kicks like crosses, not shots: choose zonal or man, set the line, defend front and back posts, and handle inswingers versus outswingers.
• Organising Your Box to Defend Free Kicks — Give every player a job before a free kick: keeper command, posts, markers, zones, the charger and a counter outlet, plus the calls that set it up fast.
• Long Throw-In Routines in the Final Third — Turn final-third throw-ins into chances: target the near post, set blockers and flick-on runners, time the throw, and defend the second ball.
• The Long-Throw Specialist: Technique and Tactics — Coach a long-throw specialist: legal technique, the run-up and drag step, grip and trajectory, towel and grip tips, plus how to use them in a match.
• Attacking Throw-In Tactics That Create Chances — Stop wasting throw-ins: use the give-and-go, third-man runs, the long throw, and movement to create space and turn restarts into real attacks.
• How to Defend Long Throw-Ins: A Coach's Guide — Defend the long throw like a corner: mark the target, attack the flick-on zone, set the keeper and posts, win the second ball, and deny the quick throw.
• Quick Throw-Ins to Keep Possession and Attack — Take throw-ins quickly to beat the press: scan before the ball goes out, hit the free man, use the thrower as an extra, and know when to slow it down.
• Throw-In Routines for Youth and Academy Teams — Simple, age-appropriate throw-in routines for youth and academy teams: legal technique, easy movement patterns, clear cues, and fun ways to practise.
• Penalty Technique: Placement vs Power (Coach's Guide) — A coach's guide to penalty taking technique. Learn when to favour placement over power, the side-foot side-netting method, run-up cues and common mistakes.
• Penalty Shootout Strategy: A Practical Coach's Plan — Plan your penalty shootout before the whistle. Order selection, who shoots first, keeper instructions, the bench list and managing the walk for coaches.
• Goalkeeper Penalty Saving: Tips That Actually Work — Help your keeper save more penalties. Reading the taker, the set position, when to commit, legal line movement and the shootout mindset that works.
• How to Choose Your Penalty Takers and Their Order — Pick your penalty takers on evidence, not reputation. A coach's system for ranking takers, setting the shootout order and managing the bench at any level.
• Handling Pressure Penalties: Routine and Mindset — Help players score under pressure. Build a repeatable pre-kick routine, control your breathing and focus, and rehearse the walk so penalties hold up.
• Playing Out From the Back From Goal Kicks — A practical guide to playing out from goal kicks. The starting shape, centre-back splits, the pivot, triggers to play forward and how to stay safe.
• Short Goal-Kick Build-Up Patterns That Work — Three repeatable short goal-kick patterns for your team. Split and switch, the third-man combo and a rotation to free a full-back, with coaching cues.
• Goalkeeper Distribution Options Explained — Every goalkeeper distribution option explained: short pass, throws, side-volley, drop-kick and long goal kick, with when to use each and coaching cues.
• Beating a High Press From Your Goal Kicks — How to beat a high press from goal kicks. Create an overload, use the keeper as a spare man, recognise traps and exploit the space behind the press.
• When to Go Long From a Goal Kick (Decision Guide) — A clear decision guide on when to go long from a goal kick: press, personnel, score, conditions and pitch. Plus how to make the long kick actually work.
• Goal-Kick Build-Up for Youth Teams: A Coach's Guide — Teach youth teams to build from goal kicks safely and develop players. Age-appropriate shape, simple rules, drills and how to handle mistakes positively.