Set-piece fundamentals for amateur and youth teams

Set pieces can decide tight games at every level, and they are one of the few parts of football you can rehearse almost exactly. A small library of simple routines that everyone understands is worth far more than a complicated move no one remembers.

Attacking corners: keep it simple

• Agree a delivery zone (near post, penalty spot or far post) and a clear signal
• Give every attacker a starting position and a target area
• Use one or two blocking runs to free your best header
• Always leave a 'rest defence' of two or three players to stop counter-attacks

Defending corners

Choose zonal, man-to-man or a mix. A mixed system — three or four players defending zones across the six-yard box plus markers on the main threats — is easy to organise at grassroots level. Make sure someone attacks the first ball and that players know who clears the edge of the box.

Free kicks

For direct free kicks, agree who sets the wall and how many players are in it based on distance and angle. For wide free kicks, treat them like a corner with an earlier delivery and a higher defensive line to attack.

Rehearse little and often

Ten minutes at the end of a session is enough. Walk through the routine, run it at half pace, then add defenders. Share a diagram before the game so players can picture their role.