U14
Defend the Box Against Crosses
Defend the box against crosses with three defenders.
- Track the runners
- Clear the first ball
Soccer Drills & Trainingby Play 2 Earn Sports
Soccer set piece drills:108 you can watch in 3D
A set piece is the one time everyone can see the plan before the ball moves. So let them see it.
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Drag a player, then press play. These are sample names: sign in and your real roster imports automatically. Try your own names, numbers and kit.
These drills cover corners, free kicks and throw-ins, both attacking and defending. They run from U6 to adult teams, and most are for U12 and older. Here are a few to look at, and the app has all 108, each one playing in 3D.
8 of 108
U14
U12
Give-and-Go From the Flag
Beat the first defender at the flag by bouncing the ball off a teammate, then pick out the nine arriving at the penalty spot.
- Taker sprints round the defender's blind side as soon as the ball leaves the flag
- Return goes in front of the taker, on the far side from the defender who stepped out
U12
Free Kick: Set the Wall then Restart Quickly
Build a wall in the right spot and restart the free kick before the defence is set.
- Wall lines up with the near post, no gaps
- Slow the restart down, then take it fast
U16
Defend The Box From Crosses
Defend three crosses into the box as a back three, clear the ball wide and start the next attack.
- Defenders mark the space in front of the attacker, not the attacker's shirt, so the cross is headed away from goal
- The nearest defender attacks the ball, the middle one holds the six yard line and the far one covers the back post
U14
Glance It On
Whip the delivery to the first post, skim it along the six-yard line and score one point for forcing a save at the back post, three for a goal.
- First-post runner gets across the front marker and only grazes it, letting the pace carry on
- Back-post finisher waits goal side of the marker and heads back the way the ball came
U14
Defending Corners: Zonal Markers plus One
Hold three zonal spots, tight-mark the main threat and clear the corner away.
- Zonal players attack the ball, they do not watch it
- The tight marker stays goal-side and touch-tight
U12
Indirect Free Kick with a Lay-Off
Touch the indirect free kick sideways and strike it from the lay-off.
- Roll the ball still, then touch it sideways
- Strike through the ball, keep it under the bar
U10
Free Full-Back Wins
Restart from the keeper and move the ball wide to the unmarked defender before the two forwards can close the gap.
- Centre-backs stand wide of the goal so the keeper has two easy targets
- Open your hips to the sideline as the ball rolls in, so you see the free full-back
100 more set piece drills are in the app, each playing in 3D with the full set-up and steps.
See all 108 set piece drills in the appWhat to coach
Clear jobs
Everyone knows where they start, where they run and who covers behind the ball.
The delivery
A good ball makes the plan work, so practise it as much as the runs.
The next ball
Plan for the clearance too, so the second chance is yours.
Keeping it simple
Two or three routines
A few that players know well work better than many they half remember.
Show it on a screen
Walking through a routine goes faster when players have watched it first.
Defend them too
Agree who marks and who guards the space, and practise that as well.
Questions
What counts as a set piece?
A restart from a stopped ball: a corner, a free kick, a throw-in, a kick-off or a goal kick.
What age should teams start set pieces?
The app has them from U6, with most from U12 up. Younger teams can start with simple restarts.
How many players do I need?
Most need 4 to 13 players.
See all 108 set piece drills in the app
Coming soon to iPhone and Android.
Get early access