Wide Free Kick — Delivery and Movement
Wide free kicks at U12 are almost always wasted because the movers don't move.
◆Why this drill works
Wide free kicks at U12 are almost always wasted because the movers don't move. They stand still in the box waiting for the ball to arrive, which gives defenders time to mark. This drill trains the specific movement pattern: one player makes a run to the near post (the decoy), one makes a late run to the back post (the target), and the deliverer picks the runner. Three players with named roles, rehearsed until the timing is automatic. The same pattern then appears in match free kicks without the coach needing to call it. The near-post run matters even when it isn't the intended target — a genuine, committed run there drags a defender out of the back-post zone, which is often what actually creates the space the real delivery is aimed at, so a half-hearted decoy run quietly sabotages the whole routine.
◇Variations and progressions
- Reverse roles version — swap which runner is the decoy and which is the target mid-session without announcing it, testing whether defenders are reading the ball or just the players.
- Disguised delivery — allow T to choose between a near-post or back-post delivery based on how the defenders react, adding a genuine decision element.
- Cut-back option added — bring in the third attacker from the progression as a standard feature, giving T three realistic targets rather than two.
- Live opposition version — add a full back four defending the routine, so timing must hold up against organised opposition rather than isolated markers.
▦The drill in three phases
▶How to run it
- T stands over the wide free kick. R1 and R2 are in the box with defenders marking them.
- T raises hand — signal for runners to move. T begins 3-step run-up.
- R1 makes a sharp run to the near post. D1 follows.
- R2 times a late curved run to the back post, arriving as the ball crosses.
- T delivers into the back post zone where R2 is arriving — away from GK, away from D2.
- Rotate roles every 4 deliveries. Every player should take both the near-post and back-post run.
- Progression: add a third attacker who makes a run to the edge of the box for a cut-back option.
✦Coaching points
Praise when you see
- A rehearsed, clearly-called routine everyone understands
- Quality of delivery into a dangerous area
- Near-post runner committing fully even when they know they're the decoy
Correct when you see
- No clear routine — call and rehearse before the set piece
- Poor delivery wasting the chance
- Static players — set pieces need timed, deliberate movement
★Kit for this drill — top picks compared
| Pick | Product | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top pick | Free Kick Mannequins | Realistic wall practice. | Check price → |
| Value | Training Footballs (6-pack) | Dead-ball reps. | Check price → |
| Upgrade | Pop-Up Goals (pair) | Target practice. | Check price → |
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