Tactics / Set pieces
Attacking corners: low and short
Two corner routines without headers: a short corner to beat the first defender, and a low ball to the edge of the box.
Why it works
Under-12 matches have no deliberate heading, and most children cannot lift a ball into the box anyway. Short and low corners create real chances with the feet.
What players do
- Short corner: a second player goes to the corner. Now it is 2v1 against the nearest defender.
- Low cut-back: one runner pulls defenders towards the near post, the ball goes back to a player arriving at the edge of the box.
- Everyone knows the signal before the game, such as one hand up for short.
- Keep one or two players back in case the ball is cleared.
Common mistakes
- Everyone standing still in the six-yard box.
- Forgetting to leave anyone back, and conceding on the break.
- The taker rushing before teammates are ready.
With young players
Give every player a turn taking corners. The taker learns the most.
Drawn on a 105 × 68 m pitch, showing the part where it happens. Orange attacks left to right and the other team is in blue; numbers are the usual shirt numbers for each position.
Put it into your own team's plan in the team builder, and see what it asks of each player.
What it asks of each player
The same idea, from every line of the team. Set it up for your own team in the team builder.
- GKGoalkeeper
- Stay alert for the counter; organise the players left back.
- Stay on the edge of the box ready for a counter.
- Tell the players left back who to mark.
Position guide: Goalkeeper
- DEFDefenders
- Two stay back for the counter; one or two attack the box.
- Two stay at the back, marking their quickest forwards.
- One goes to the edge of the box for a clearance.
Position guide: Centre-back · Full-back
- MIDMidfielders
- Arrive late at the edge of the box for the cut-back.
- Show for the short corner and play it quickly.
- Arrive late around the penalty spot.
Position guide: Holding midfielder · Central midfielder · Attacking midfielder
- ATT
Practices that train it
Start with the first, and build up to the game.
crossing · 15 min · 6 to 12, plus a goalkeeper
Low crosses and cut-backs
A wide player runs down the line and plays the ball low across the goal or back to the edge of the box. Two runners attack it: one to the near post, one to the penalty spot.
shooting · 12 min · You and a friend, plus a goalkeeper if you have one
First-time finishing
Your friend rolls the ball across in front of you and you finish without stopping it. Most goals in real games are scored with one or two touches.
attacking · 15 min · Groups of 3
2v1: pass or go?
Two attackers against one defender. The player on the ball decides: dribble past, or pass to a teammate who is free.