Set pieces for grassroots football coaches
Everything we have on set pieces — in one place.
Set pieces win matches at every level. This page collects every set pieces drill, session, and article from the SimpleDrills library into a single hub — 12 drills, 6 session plans, 1 background articles.
12drills·6sessions·1articles · Ages U10–adult
The set pieces philosophy
Set pieces win matches at every level. 20% of all goals come from set pieces — corners, free kicks, throw-ins, kick-offs. Most grassroots squads under-drill them, treating set pieces as 'just throw it in' moments. The SimpleDrills set-piece library is built on a different principle: every set piece is a rehearsed routine with a name, and the discipline of calling the name before execution is half the work.
12 set pieces drills
Drills focused on set pieces as the primary technical or tactical theme. Each drill includes setup, run time, equipment, and age range.
Attacking Throw-Ins — Tower and Loop
Most grassroots throw-ins in the attacking third are either aimless long throws or immediate back-passes to th…
Corner Kicks: Near and Far Targets
U10-U11 is when corners stop being random kicks and start being purposeful. But most grassroots coaches over-c…
Throw-In Routines
A typical 9v9 match has 30+ throw-ins. Most grassroots teams give the ball away on at least half — the receive…
Throw-In: Give and Go
Most U10-U13 teams lose possession on roughly 60% of their throw-ins. The thrower throws to the nearest player…
Attacking Corners — Near-Post Patterns
Most grassroots teams treat corners as 'chuck it in the box and hope'. The reality is 60%+ of corners produce …
Defending Corners — Man-Marking Structure
Most U12–U14 squads concede corner goals not because individual defenders can't head the ball, but because no …
Wide Free Kick — Delivery and Movement
Wide free kicks at U12 are almost always wasted because the movers don't move. They stand still in the box wai…
Attacking Free Kicks
Free kicks within 25 yards of goal are some of the highest-value attacking moments — and they're routinely was…
Defending Corners — Zonal-Hybrid
Pure zonal defending requires senior-level discipline that grassroots youth don't have yet. Pure man-marking l…
Kit for set pieces coaching
Quality grassroots kit for running set pieces sessions. Amazon links — OneLink routes you to your local marketplace.
* Amazon affiliate links. SimpleDrills earns a small commission at no extra cost to you.
6 set pieces session plans
Full 45–90 minute session plans organised around set pieces. Each session is structured into time blocks with coaching cues and equipment lists.
U10 Set Piece Routines
60-minute session building two attacking set pieces (corners and throw-ins) plus the confidence to use them in matches. …
7v7 Set Pieces
A 60-minute session drilling all four set-piece routines for U12–U13 squads. Corners, free kicks, throw-ins — all named,…
U13 Set Pieces — Corners
A 60-minute session covering both attacking and defending corners — patterns that work, roles that stick.
U13 Set Pieces — Throws & Free Kicks
A 75-minute session covering the two most-overlooked set-piece sources — long throws and direct free kicks. Patterns, te…
U15 Set Pieces — 90 Minutes
A 90-minute set-piece session for U15 squads. All six routines plus two variants each. The deep set-piece session for sq…
Adult Set Pieces — 60 Minutes
A 60-minute session running all six set-piece routines for adult squads. Each routine drilled to execution quality befor…
Further reading
Coaching set pieces from U7 to adult
U7 — Not relevant
Set pieces aren't relevant at U7. Throw-ins and goal kicks happen but aren't worth drilling. The 3v3 format reduces the number of set-piece situations dramatically.
U8–U9 — Basic technique
U8 and U9 set pieces are basic — throw-in technique, simple corner placement, simple kick-off routines. The technique is what to coach. Tactical routines are too complex; save them for U10+.
U10–U11 — Named routines emerge
U10 and U11 is where rehearsed set-piece routines start to pay off. Throw-in routines (the 'tower', the 'loop'), basic corner deliveries, free-kick decoys. Each routine needs a name. The discipline of calling routines forms here and matters all the way up.
U12–U13 — Attack AND defence
Set-piece sessions cover both attacking and defensive responsibilities. The corner routine has two parts. Defensive set pieces win matches at this level; squads that drill them rarely concede from corners.
U14–U18 — Sophistication
Multiple corner routines (near-post run, far-post pull, short corner), free-kick variations, throw-in tactics. A set-piece coach is a legitimate role from U14. 20% of goals come from set pieces.
Adult amateur — The difference-maker
Adult amateur set pieces are where matches are won. Most adult squads under-drill them. Five named routines cover most situations. Drill them in pre-season; refresh them quarterly.
?FAQ
What is Set pieces for grassroots football coaches?
Set pieces win matches at every level. This page collects every set pieces drill, session, and article from the SimpleDrills library into a single hub — 12 drills, 6 session plans, 1 background articles.
Is this free to use on SimpleDrills?
Yes — all coaching content on SimpleDrills, including this page, is free to view, print, and use with your team.