Corner kick routine for youth soccer

A good corner kick routine for youth soccer is one that every player can remember and the taker can actually deliver. This one uses a low, driven ball to the near post. One player makes a late run to meet it and flicks it on across the goal, and a second player arrives at the far post to finish. It needs a taker who can hit the ball firmly along the ground or at knee height, and players who know their run before the ball is kicked.

Why this corner kick routine works in youth soccer

Many youth players can't yet lift a corner high and far into the middle of the box, and a high ball into the middle is easier for the keeper to claim. A low ball to the near post is shorter and easier to strike well. It also arrives in a crowded area quickly, where one touch from an attacker can change its direction faster than the keeper and defenders can react.

The run matters more than the delivery. The near post runner starts away from the goal, near the edge of the box, and drifts back a step or two to pull their marker with them. When the taker approaches the ball, they sprint in front of the marker to the space just in front of the near post. Arriving late and at speed beats a defender who is standing still, and being in front means the defender can only reach the ball through them.

The other runs make the space. One player attacks the far post, ready for a flick on or a ball that goes through everyone. Another goes to the penalty spot for anything that drops short. Two players stay at the edge of the box for a clearance, and the rest stay back to deal with a counter attack. When the defense clears a corner and breaks quickly, a team that left nobody behind is in trouble, which is covered in recovery runs.

Agree on a signal so everyone knows which routine is coming. A raised arm from the taker is enough. Under the Laws of the Game a player can't be offside straight from a corner kick, but once the near post runner touches it, offside applies again. The far post runner in this routine is behind the ball when it is flicked on, so they are onside.

Step by step

O attacks the goal on the right and has a corner from the bottom corner. O7 takes it. D defends the goal with mostly player marking, the keeper in the middle of the goal and two forwards left up the field.

O7 raises an arm to signal the routine. O9 drifts back toward the edge of the box, and D1 follows.

O7 drives the ball low toward the near post. O9 sprints in front of D1 to meet it, O10 attacks the far post and O5 the penalty spot.

O9 flicks the ball on across the goal toward the far post. The keeper has moved toward the near post and can't get back.

O10 has arrived at the far post ahead of D2 and sweeps the ball in.

Goal. O6 and O4 stayed at the edge of the box, and O1, O2 and O3 stayed back in case D cleared it.

To practice it, walk through the runs with no defenders first, so each player learns where they start and where they go. Then add defenders and take a few corners in a row, with the taker focusing on a firm, low ball rather than a perfect one. If the defense starts putting someone on the near post, the far post runner is the next option, and the taker can aim there instead.

The full play

You can take this playbook into your own account and change it for your team, for example to swap the runners around or take the corner from the other side.

If you coach a youth or rec team, game day on Playspedia helps you plan who plays when and keep playing time fair. Set up your team here.