Set Pieces

Defending Corners Organisation

Organise the defensive corner set-up

Set Pieces

Defending

Defending Corners Organisation is a 18-minute set pieces drill for 8-20 players, suitable for Under 11 to Adults at intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, bibs, full goals. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.

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Set Pieces

Defending

Heading

Skill Practice

Intermediate

Advanced

Full Squad

Youth Friendly

Adult Suitable

Goals Needed

Duration

18 min

Players

8-20

Pitch size

Penalty area

Ability levels

Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Defending Corners Organisation — 4 gates — score by travelling through · Penalty area

Step 1 of 3Attackers deliver, defenders clear and counter into a halfway gate.

1. Attackers deliver, defenders clear and counter into a halfway gate.
2. Coach freezes the set-up to check positions.
3. Twelve corners then swap.

Cones mark the area
Cone gates to dribble / pass through
Ball
Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

-Organise the defensive corner set-up
-Clear the first and second ball
-Start the counter after the clearance

Setup

1Defenders positioned in a mixed zonal and man set-up.
2Attackers with corner takers on both sides.
3Target gates at halfway for the counter.

Coaching instructions

1Attackers deliver, defenders clear and counter into a halfway gate.
2Coach freezes the set-up to check positions.
3Twelve corners then swap.

Coaching points

-Post players stay until the ball is cleared
-Attack the ball, do not watch the runner
-Push out together on the clearance

Common mistakes

-Ball watching in the box
-Nobody guarding the edge
-Slow to push out after clearing

Equipment needed

Balls

Cones

Bibs

Full Goals

Age groups

Under 11

Under 12

Under 13

Under 14

Under 15

Under 16

Adults

Progressions

+Switch To Score: two switches before scoring
+Five Second Counter-Press: three seconds to win it back
+Target Zone Bonus: only goals started from a pocket count
+Add a competitive scoreline for the last round

Regressions

-Switch To Score: switch earns a bonus point rather than being compulsory
-Five Second Counter-Press: eight seconds and fewer opponents
-Target Zone Bonus: widen the pocket zones
-Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

-Switch To Score — A goal only counts after the ball has been switched from one side of the pitch to the other.
-Five Second Counter-Press — On losing the ball the team has five seconds to win it back before dropping into shape.
-Target Zone Bonus — Extra points for playing into marked pockets between the lines before finishing.
-Overload Rotation — One team plays with an extra player for two minutes then the overload rotates.
-Restart Realism — All restarts are played as in a match — throw-ins, goal kicks and corners rather than a coach ball.
-Two-Goal Decision — Each team attacks two small goals, so defenders must decide which threat to cover.
-Limited Touch Build-Up — Maximum three touches in your own half, unlimited once you pass the halfway line.
-Flip the practice to the opposite side of the pitch