Set Pieces, Attacking, Finishing · U10+
The corner is played short. The supporting player moves toward the flag and receives the pass, which causes the nearest defender to step out of the penalty area to pressure. The return pass goes back to the kicker, who has meanwhile moved about eight meters away from the corner. From there the crossing angle is better, and you can get the ball low between the near post and the goalkeeper. The runner arriving at the near post finishes with one touch, while the run to the far post starts at the same time. There are two defenders: one pressures the short corner, the other defends the area. Without the defender stepping out, the pattern doesn’t show why the short corner works.
Go short only once the kicker is ready. Moving too early pulls the defender in before the space has time to appear. Short pass with the inside of the foot to the middle of the ball, with the plant foot behind the ball. The pace should be such that the return can be made with one touch. Return the ball into the kicker’s running path—don’t pass it to their feet. The kicker steps away from the end line before the return, because the crossing angle improves only after that. Cross low between the near post and the goalkeeper.
When do you go short, and how do you recognize that the defender is stepping in? Where do you return the ball when the kicker is already moving? Why is the cross more dangerous from eight meters away than directly from the corner? Where at the near post does the ball need to arrive so you can finish with one touch?
Short corner kick is a football drill on TacticsBoard. Category: Set Pieces, Attacking, Finishing. Age group: U10+. Browse more football drills or create your own for free.