Week 43

Outcomes

• ✓Players can name and execute their individual role in each set-piece routine without a prompt
• ✓Players can disguise a corner routine using a dummy run before the delivery
• ✓Players can attack a near-post and far-post delivery with correct run timing
• ✓Players can defend a potential quick counter-attack after a failed set piece

Equipment

• 10 cones
• 4 bibs (2 colours)
• 3 balls
• 2 goals
• 1 whiteboard + marker with positional diagram

Run of show

1. 1. Activation & 11+ Warm-Up

   15m

   Set up: Full team in two lines at the edge of the 18-yard box, cones at key set-piece positions.

   How to run it: Run 11+ protocol: jogging pairs, lateral shuffles with shoulder taps, single-leg balance and push, bounding. Finish with a heading warm-up: coach lobs the ball into the six-yard box, players practise directing headers while stationary, then walking, then at pace with a short run-up.

   • ›Eyes open through contact – watch the ball onto the forehead
   • ›Snap the neck forward through the ball, do not wait for it to hit you
   • ›Land on both feet in a balanced stance ready to follow the rebound

2. 2. Technical/Functional Practice – Set-Piece Walk-Through

   15m

   Set up: Full penalty area and corner arc. Whiteboard shows diagrams of two corner routines: 'Near' and 'Far'. Free-kick position at 22 yds.

   How to run it: Walk through each routine at 50% speed: assign roles (delivery, near-post runner, far-post runner, peel-back runner, second-ball midfielder). Run each routine three times at 50%, then at 80%, then at full speed. After corners, walk through the free kick: two options based on whether the wall jumps or stands.

   • ›Every runner must begin their run from the same position every time for consistency
   • ›Dummy runner must sell the movement – half-hearted dummies are ignored
   • ›Delivery player reads the wall/keeper position and selects option A or B before the kick
   • ›After delivery, second-ball players hold the D until the flight of the ball is clear

3. 3. Skill/Phase Game – Set-Piece Repetition

   15m

   Set up: Full goal and 18-yard box with goalkeeper. 8 attackers vs. 6 defenders.

   How to run it: Run 10 corners (5 per side) and 5 free kicks from alternating positions. Attackers score goals. Defenders score points for winning clear possession. After each rep, attacker leader (team captain) gives a brief self-assessment: 'Did we execute the routine correctly – yes or no?' Adjust timing and spacing where needed.

   • ›Celebrate correct execution even when no goal is scored
   • ›Goalkeeper distribution quality on defensive clearance is part of the set-piece
   • ›Focus on: did every runner do their job, regardless of the outcome?

4. 4. Conditioned Tactical Game – 9v9 with Set-Piece Restarts

   20m

   Set up: Full 65×45 yd pitch, 9v9, goalkeepers in. Coach deliberately awards corners and free kicks at regular intervals regardless of play to give maximum repetition.

   How to run it: Normal 9v9 plus, every 4 minutes, coach awards a corner or free kick to one team regardless of game state. Teams must organise their set-piece shape within 30 seconds. Executing the rehearsed routine correctly (even without scoring) earns a bonus point. Teams that score from a rehearsed routine earn triple points.

   • ›Transition to set-piece shape quickly – do not waste time debating the routine
   • ›Defending set pieces: each player must know their specific defensive assignment
   • ›Attacking set piece failed? Immediate defensive transition – do not linger in the box

5. 5. Scrimmage – Free Play

   15m

   Set up: Same pitch, free play from a kick-off.

   How to run it: Open match, players self-referee set pieces. Coach watches how accurately set pieces are executed without explicit instruction. Note any routine that breaks down consistently.

   • ›If a routine fails three times, simplify it – complexity without execution is worthless
   • ›Note any player who consistently takes the wrong set-piece position

6. 6. Cool-Down & Debrief

   5m

   Set up: Circle cool-down.

   How to run it: 90-second cool-down (neck, shoulders, hip flexors). Debrief: 'What is the single most important thing each runner needs to do for our corner routine to work?' Take two answers and consolidate into one principle.

   • ›Simplicity and consistency beat complexity every time in set pieces
   • ›Preview session 2: defending set pieces and opponent set-piece scouting

Outcomes

• ✓Players can organise the defensive set-piece shape in under 30 seconds
• ✓Players can attack the ball in their zone rather than watching it arrive
• ✓Players can identify and mark a second-ball threat at the top of the penalty area
• ✓Players can transition immediately to attack after winning a defensive set piece

Equipment

• 10 cones
• 4 bibs (2 colours)
• 3 balls
• 2 goals
• 1 whiteboard + marker

Run of show

1. 1. Activation & 11+ Warm-Up

   15m

   Set up: Two groups of 6 in a 20×15 yd warm-up channel.

   How to run it: Run 11+: jogging, lateral shuffles, hip circles, single-leg RDL, bounding. Add a set-piece reaction drill: coach stands in the corner arc position; defenders must sprint to their defensive assignments on the coach's whistle from a resting position 10 yds away. Time each organisation. Target: all players in position in under 25 seconds.

   • ›Post players sprint first and hold position – they are the anchor for the system
   • ›Zonal players establish their zone early and do not move toward the ball prematurely
   • ›Goalkeeper calls the shape immediately from their position in the goal

2. 2. Technical/Functional Practice – Defensive Set-Piece Walkthrough

   15m

   Set up: Full 18-yard box. Whiteboard shows zonal/man-marking assignments. Goalkeeper in goal.

   How to run it: Walk through defensive corner shape at 50% speed: two post players, zonal blockers, man-markers on specific threat runners, second-ball players at the edge of the area. Run five corners from the left, five from the right. Goalkeeper must command 'mine' or 'away' on every delivery. After each rep, the defensive captain gives a correctness call: 'shape – yes or no'.

   • ›The goalkeeper's command is the authority in the box – outfield players must not second-guess
   • ›Zonal players: attack the ball in the zone, do not track runners across zones
   • ›After a clear, transition players sprint forward immediately – do not admire the clearance
   • ›Second-ball player at the edge of the area stays until the ball is out of the box

3. 3. Skill/Phase Game – 7 Defenders vs. 8 Attackers Set-Piece

   15m

   Set up: Full 18-yard box. Seven defenders (plus GK) defend against eight attackers from corners and free kicks.

   How to run it: Attacking team runs 12 set pieces (a mix of corners and free kicks from varying positions). Defending team earns a point for each clearance that travels beyond the 18-yard line. Attacking team earns a point for each on-target shot. After six reps, coach pauses and asks: 'Which routine broke our shape most? How do we fix it?'

   • ›Identify any zone or assignment that was repeatedly beaten
   • ›Encourage defenders to communicate early: 'I have the near post', 'I have the six-yard line'
   • ›Clearance must have both height and distance – a short clear is a second chance for them

4. 4. Conditioned Tactical Game – 9v9 Set-Piece Integration

   20m

   Set up: Full 65×45 yd pitch, goalkeepers in, 9v9. Coach awards set pieces regularly (every 4 minutes).

   How to run it: Normal 9v9 with set-piece awards every 4 minutes (alternating teams). Defending team earns a bonus point for organising their defensive shape within 25 seconds and not conceding from the set piece. Coach tracks and announces set-piece concessions vs. clean defences throughout the game.

   • ›No set piece should be lost due to an unorganised shape – it is always a preparation failure
   • ›Celebrate clean set-piece defences as vocally as goals
   • ›If the ball is cleared but immediately returned, the set-piece shape must hold until the phase ends

5. 5. Scrimmage – Free Play

   15m

   Set up: Same pitch, free play.

   How to run it: Open match. Players self-award and defend set pieces. Coach observes organisation quality and transition speed after set-piece clearances.

   • ›Positive: any well-organised set-piece defence that transitions to a counter-attack
   • ›Development: any player who switches off after a clearance instead of tracking the counter

6. 6. Cool-Down & Debrief

   5m

   Set up: Circle cool-down.

   How to run it: 90-second stretch (shoulders, neck, hip flexors). Debrief: 'What is the one defensive set-piece habit that, if every player does it every time, will keep our system strong?' Consolidate answers into a team habit statement written on the whiteboard.

   • ›The habit statement should be short, memorable, and player-generated
   • ›Preview week 44: position-specific roles and responsibilities deep-dive