Attacking Corner Routines

Corners are free chances to score — yet most teams waste them. Here are attacking corner routines and the coaching points that turn corners into goals.

Why corners are worth coaching

Every match brings a handful of corners. A team with good routines and movement scores from them; a team that just lumps it in doesn't. A little coaching here is some of the best-value work you can do.

Get the delivery right first

Nothing works without good delivery. Decide the type — inswinger, outswinger or driven — and a clear target area. A quality ball into the right zone is worth more than any clever routine.

• Pick a target zone: near post, far post or penalty spot.
• Match the delivery to the target — inswinger to attack, outswinger to pull the keeper.
• Deliver with pace so defenders can't react.

Routine 1: The near-post flick

An attacker attacks the near post to flick the ball on across goal, with runners arriving at the far post. Hard to defend and a classic for a reason.

Routine 2: The far-post overload

Load the far post with runners timing their arrival, pulling defenders and creating a mismatch. Movement and timing are everything.

Routine 3: The short corner

Two players combine to create a better crossing angle or draw defenders out. Great for changing the picture when direct corners aren't working.

• Time runs late — arrive as the ball does, don't stand and wait.
• Attack the ball — be first and be aggressive.
• Have a plan for the second ball around the edge of the box.

Coaching points

Practise routines until the movement is automatic, but keep a couple of simple options rather than ten complicated ones. Assign roles — who delivers, who attacks which zone, who guards against the counter.

See also our guide to defending corners.