Short Corners

Few players in their young teens can put a corner kick accurately in the 6 yard box. In fact, you have probably even seen pros hit a corner kick poorly at least once or twice a game. Thankfully, kicking the ball directly to the box is not the only option for scoring on a corner kick.
First up, I have to make a big warning for any short corner option.

WATCH THE OFFSIDES!

Once the kicker passes to another player, the defense can push up, leaving attackers in an offside position. Attackers have to watch the defenders. Often, young defenders are focused on the ball and marking players and don't clear the box as a first instinct, which is good for us.

Let's start with an easy pass to the fullback.

Here we try to give the fullback Player 2 a shot or pass to the far post. So everybody is getting out of the way. 5 runs toward the kicker to draw his defender out. He's pretending to be a short corner option. 10 makes a run to the top of the box where he can receive a pass or catch a poor clearance. 6 retreats to cover 2's spot. All the rest of the players go back post. It's a simple pass. But Player 2 will have a much better chance at getting the ball to the backpost because he's closer, he's running, and the ball is moving. The key is for player 2 to show little interest in participating in the play, then start running when the kicker raises his hand. If the gig is up, the kicker will have to use player 5 for a give and go.

Here is another take on this play. Basically a similar setup. 6 takes his man into the box to make room for a short corner. Player 5 runs in on the sideline. The kicker plays a give-and-go (one-touch pass) off Player 5.  7 (the kicker) is now closer to the box and may even be able to take a dribble before crossing. This is quick and easy and gets quality passes into the box. Here we show most of the attackers in the box moving into positions to receive a cross. This works when the defense hasn't yet caught on to the short corners and the defenders are staying in the 6 yard box. When they start trying to trap our attackers offside, we switch it up.

Here 5, the usual short corner player is marked and "gives up", only to have 10 run into the space he left. 10's defender has to pressure because 10 is in a great place for a cross. So who is marking the kicker? Nobody. 10 plays a one-touch to 7 before the defense has had much of a chance to clear the box. Since 7 is close to the sideline, everybody else is onside. He can take a cross from shorter distance and hopefully reach our attakers. Notice that this time, instead of lining up at the top of the box, our attackers started on the endline. This is to draw defenders there which will play everyone onside. 8 stays low (ostensibly to be in the keeper's way and keep a defender deep) while 9 and 11 loop out and come back to head or volley the cross in.

After they catch on to the short corners, we have 5 and 10 "give up" on the short corner and head into the box. This leaves enough room for 2 to sprint in and receive a pass near the sideline.  7 must get into play immediately and try to draw a defender. 2 plays his cross to the far post, if possible. Notice we have a couple of strikers moving in towards the near post. This is to draw defenders away from 9 who has looped out and now, with all the action on the sideline and the defenders shifting ballside, our elusive striker is probably unmarked.

Players should not need to choose beforehand which short corner option will be used. 5, 10, and 2 can see the situation and respond accordingly. If 5 shows near corner and is marked, he retreats and 10 shows. If both are marked they both retreat and 2 shows. If they are all marked, then we have a possible numbers advantage in the box and the kicker is just going to have to do his best to get the ball directly to a striker in the box.
A second type of short corner is the flick-on. However, a simpler option is a kick-on. Here are two options.

6 starts the run hard toward 8. The kicker plays the ball along the ground and 6 passes along the ground to 3 who shoots near post or crosses. Or 6 plays 10 who has a left foot shot chance. Notice all the players are hanging out at the back post to make space for this cheeky attack. These passes must be crisp and accurate.

With all these options, we should be able to keep the defense guessing and get quality chances from almost every corner kick.