How to Score Goals From Corner Kicks in Soccer
The number of goals scored from corner kicks is statistically high enough in soccer that it warrants dedicated practice time in a season. Yet, not enough teams practice organized corner kicks, preferring instead to leave the play up to the fates and random chance. It is always better to have a planned routine focused on corner kicks in order to maximize the possibility of scoring every time.
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Instructions
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Ensure that the corner kick taker has a good ability to supply an accurate cross at various paces. This is possibly the single biggest factor in the success of any corner kick play. A kicker who can't get their cross past the first defender will waste almost all corner kick opportunities. Corner kicks must be able to clear the head of the first defender and at least reach the near-post area.
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Organize the runs into the penalty box beginning from outside of the box. Having players run from the edge of the box towards the goal line allows them to gain more momentum at the moment their head or feet contacts the ball. Positioning players in these areas also pulls defenders away from the central scoring area.
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3
Make sure the three most important runs are made. These runs are to the near post, the back post, and the space between the penalty spot and the six-yard line. Traditionally, these are the areas where most goals are scored, and it pays to have players making runs into these areas as the ball is flighted in.
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Time the cross and the runs properly. This means that for in-swinging corners, i.e corner kicks where the ball swings towards the goal, the runs must be made the moment before the kick is taken. For out-swinging corners such as corner kicks where the ball swings away from the goal, the runs need to me made after the kick is taken.
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Position players five-to-ten yards outside the penalty box for rebounds. This is a great source of goals from corner kicks, and any player receiving a rebound or clearance in these positions should look to shoot immediately, low and centrally. Statistically, the ball will either go straight into goal, will deflect into goal, will deflect and go out for a corner, or will be cleared or saved. This gives any shot from this position a 75% chance of ending positively for the attacking team.
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Tips & Warnings
In-swinging crosses tend to produce more goals than outswinging crosses, so concentrate on practicing these types first
The best headers of the ball on the team should take the near and far post positions.
Post a player around the goalkeeper in order to obstruct his view a little
Always practice runs towards goal with safety in mind
Heading repetitions should be kept to a minimum in any small time frame, so allow lots of players to work on their heading and runs rather than allow the same two or three players to take all the repetitions.
