— TRAINING SESSION

Set-piece session — game-winners

Stretch the Game · 60 minutes · 4 drills · Generated 21 May 2026

Rehearses the three core set-piece routines. Time well spent — set pieces decide 25% of matches.

4DRILLS

60MINUTES

15AVG / DRILL

1 Corner routine — near-post flick

0 min Difficulty: Intermediate Age: u14 Court: Half

Corner kick where the taker delivers to the near post for a flick-on across the 6-yard box. The most effective corner pattern in elite football. Drills the rehearsed run, the delivery, and the secondary finisher.

Coaching points

• Near-post runner attacks the near post explosively, glances the ball on
• Delivery is whipped with pace, head-height at the near post
• Far-post runner arrives late behind the defenders
• Glance with the forehead — redirect, don\'t try to head it cleanly
• Goal hangers stay in the 6-yard box for the second ball

2 Free kick — wall positioning and bend

0 min Difficulty: Advanced Age: u16 Court: Half

Direct free kick from a wide position outside the box. Taker must bend the ball around the wall and into the far corner. Drills the technique of curve, the placement, and the keeper\'s positioning.

Coaching points

• Plant foot beside the ball, knee bent
• Strike with the inside of the foot, brushing across the ball to add spin
• Aim for the inside of the far post — the ball will curve in
• Power and dip come from striking through the middle, not under the ball
• Wall must be set up by a teammate — never the taker

3 Attacking throw-in routine

0 min Difficulty: Intermediate Age: u14 Court: Half

Long throw-in pattern designed to create a shooting chance from a wide throw. Drills the rehearsed runs, the throw target, and the secondary finisher — an under-coached set piece in the British game.

Coaching points

• Long-throw specialist gets the ball — others stay calm
• Near-post runner attacks the throw to flick on
• Central striker holds position to attack the flicked ball
• Throw target is head height at the near post
• Defenders are slow to react to throw-ins — exploit the moment

4 Far-post finishing — attack the cross

0 min Difficulty: Intermediate Age: u14 Court: Half

Crosses are served from wide positions; strikers attack the far post to finish. Develops the timing, body shape, and aggression needed to score from wide play.

Coaching points

• Hold your run — start the run LATE, not early
• Attack the ball — don\'t wait for it to come to you
• Far post header: meet it with the forehead, direct it down
• Cross-and-finish on the deck: side-foot or laces, choose before contact
• Keep moving even if the ball is overhit — there\'s always a chance