A worked free kick from the right with two players on it. The first taker shapes to cross with his right foot but runs over the ball and carries on down the line, like he is heading off down the wing. The second player plays his part, looking confused as if a pass is coming. Then the first taker turns back, and just when it looks like nothing is on, runs up and whips it in with his left foot, catching the defence ball-watching. The whole attack knows it is coming: they time their runs to stay onside, attack the cross and score.
Mid (U9 to U13)Older (U14 to U18)Attacking playShooting & finishing
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In play
The setup
Step by step
1
The first player runs up as if to cross with his right foot, but runs over the ball and carries on down the line, like he is going down the wing.
2
The other player on the ball pretends to pass fake passes and pretends to get confused, which is part of the act.
3
The first player walks back towards the ball, looking disinterested, then quickly looks up and crosses it into the box, swinging it in with his left foot to surprise the opposition.
4
Everyone in the box knows it is coming: time your runs to stay onside, attack the cross and score.
Age group
Mid (U9 to U13), Older (U14 to U18)
Duration
10 mins
Players
2 takers + attackers in the box
Area
Attacking third, wide right
Equipment
A ball, a goal, markers for the box
FA Four Corners: what this develops
Technical / TacticalPsychologicalPhysicalSocial
Objective
Catch the defence ball-watching with a disguised free kick: one taker sells a run down the line while the other feigns confusion, then the same taker turns back and delivers with his other foot, with the attack timing its runs to stay onside.
Set up
A free kick out wide on the right, a good distance from goal, with two players stood over it. The defence sets a two-player wall and marks up on the edge of the box; the keeper is in goal. Attackers line up on the edge of the box, timing their runs to stay onside.
Coaching points
Sell the dummy: the first taker has to really look like he is crossing or running the line, not just stepping over it.
The second player plays his part, looking confused or calling for the ball, to freeze the defenders.
The first taker turns back and delivers first time off his left foot, whipped across the six-yard box.
Attackers hold their runs until the ball is struck so no one strays offside, then attack the cross.
Progressions
Mirror the whole routine from the left-hand side so you have it both ways.
Add a near-post flick-on option if the cross comes in low and hard.
Call a back-post variation if the defence overloads the near post.
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