Corner Combinations
Two teams play keep-away in a big square and score by playing into a corner teammate — who must one-touch it to a third player.
The point only counts as a three-player combination, so passing turns into thinking ahead — every ball into the corner needs the next pass already planned.
Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive
- Grab: Cones, pinnies in two colors, and a few balls.
- Build: Build a square about 40 by 40 yards — grow or shrink it for your numbers and skill level.
- Place: Each team posts a player in two diagonally opposite corners — one team takes two corners, the other team takes the remaining two. Everyone else starts inside.
Show me the setup picture
One thing to remember: Combination play, switching the point of attack, and thinking ahead to support the attack.
How it runs — the whole game in one sentence
The inside players play keep-away; a pass into your corner player who first-times it to a third teammate is a point — and the passer becomes the new corner player. First team to 10 wins.
1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Split into two even teams in pinnies, no more than eight a side. Post one player from each team in each of their two diagonal corners.
Coach says
Reds — those two corners. Blues — the other two. Everyone else, inside.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk one score — the ball goes into a corner player, the corner player plays it first-time to a third teammate, and the passer runs out to take over that corner.
Coach says
Corner players — one touch, back to a teammate. Make the pass in? You take the corner.
3Play▾
Coach does
Keep score to 10. Watch for early balls — the diagonal corners exist so the point of attack can swing before the defense sets.
Coach says
Play it early! Think ahead — who's next after the corner?
Look for: Early balls into the corners — the point of attack changing quickly instead of the ball circling under pressure.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
The scoring does the rotating — every point trades the passer into the corner. Remind corner players they can move along their corner to fix their angle.
Coach says
Corners — don't stand still. Slide over and open the angle!
If it's not working
If the one-touch layoff keeps dying, give the corner players two touches until the combinations flow, then go back to one.
Want to go deeper? Optional — not needed to run the game.
Why are we doing this?
What are they learning?
How can I change it?
Easier: Give the corner players two touches instead of one.
Harder: Limit the inside players' touches.
Next: 2v2 Plus 4 — the same corner outlets, now serving a 2v2 in a tight square.