How to score a corner kick in soccer?
First thing first, corner kicks are one of the best ways to score goals, especially during overtime. During this period, players tend to play long balls in the hope to get a corner or a free kick they could exploit.
In this article, you are going to learn everything there is to know about how to score a corner. This involves scoring directly from the corner spot to scoring through various other strategies.
Let’s get started.
How To Score A Corner Kick?
To score a corner kick, here is what you need to do:
- Try to score directly from the corner spot
- Search for the defence weakness and exploit it
- Work on various corner strategies in training and implement them
- Put all the tall players in the opposing box during a corner
- A player must stay right outside the box entrance
- When taking the corner kick, make sure the ball doesn’t get too close to the goalie
1-Try To Score Directly From The Corner Spot
To score directly from a corner kick, the corner taker must have a good curving ability and hit the ball at the back post(The opposite post to where the corner is taking place).
For example, if the corner is taking place on the left, the corner taker must be sure to have a good curving skill, then target the second goalpost when taking the corner kick.
As shown in the image above, you should target the second post.
Note that this doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to score. But, at least, you will get closer to doing it.
But, why is it important to know how to curve the ball?
Well, one of the best techniques to take a corner is to curve it.
So, if you can curve a ball properly, then you are going to be a great corner taker and have better chances to score goals from there.
You already know what to do to score directly from a corner.
But, how to find my teammates in the box to score goals during a corner kick? This is the next part of this article.
2-Search For The Defence Weakness And Exploit It
Before every game, you have to analyse your opponent and see their strengths and weaknesses.
Once you know the most common weaknesses of a team during corner kicks, you can use them to your advantage during the game.
For example, if the opposing team is not so good at set pieces, take a note of that and use it to your advantage by seeking fouls and corners.
But, how do you know the weaknesses of a team if you have never watched their games before?
Well, this is simple. All you have to do is to analyse the first corner kick you get during the game. This first corner kick will allow you to see how the opposition reacts and what to take from this.
Then, put some strategies into place during the next corners.
3-Work On Various Corner Strategies In Training
During your training sessions, your team must work on several corner set plays and implement them during the game.
You should not just have one or two strategies but several ones.
All the players must understand one another on the pitch and have better communication. This will allow them to combine easily.
So, during a corner kick in a game, the corner taker can just give a signal to the others about the strategy he is trying to adopt.
Remember, each strategy should have a signal.
4-Put All The Tall Players In The Box During The Corner
Your tallest players should always be in the box during an attacking or defending corner kick.
A corner aims to find a player’s head. This means if your players aren’t tall or good enough, chances are you won’t do well in corners.
Have you ever wondered why defenders go in the opposing box when their team gets a corner?
This is because defenders are generally tall and physically built.
So, they bring an impact in corners and can score many goals with their head.
A great example is Sergio Ramos. He has scored many goals and the majority of them are in corner kicks.
According to FoxSports, he has scored 20 corner kick goals from 2016 to 2022.
5-A Player Must Stay Right Outside The Box Entrance
During a corner kick, it’s important to have a player stand right outside the goalie box.
Having a player in that position will ensure the ball possession if the defending team clears the ball away in that area of the pitch.
A player with a good shooting ability should stand there because if the ball comes to this area, the player must take a shot and at least hit the target.
Most teams won’t make the mistake to clear the ball away to that area because they know it can put them in a very bad situation.
But, it is still recommended to have a player there just in case.
6-When Taking The Corner, Make Sure The Ball Doesn’t Get So Close To The Goalie
If you want the ball to reach your teammates during a corner kick, you have to hit it away from the goalie.
You should aim to hit the ball to the penalty spot.
If the ball gets too close to the goalie, he might catch or punch it.
Final Word
This article was all about how to score a corner kick in soccer.
You have to remember that you can score directly from the corner spot, always make sure to know the opponent’s weaknesses, work on various strategies in training, have your tallest players in the box during a corner, have a player right outside the box, and hit the ball away from the goalie.
These are the best tips anyone should implement to score more goals from corner kicks.
Do you have any questions or anything else you would like to add? Leave them in the comment section below and I will get back to you ASAP.
You can also read: When does a corner kick occur in soccer?
