Mainz U19s are a top case study of how to execute different individual and group principles in terms of winning space and using that to gain an advantage from set-pieces.
At the heart of this approach is the floating screen, a tool that helps attackers lose their markers and dominate the duel.
Unlike routines against zonal defenders, which rely on perfect timing and pinpoint delivery, the floating screen works because of its flexibility.
The attacker’s run dictates the routine, letting the screen setter focus on his opponent.
Add in decoy runs, deep starting positions, and well-timed overloads, and Mainz U19s show how good preparation can turn set-pieces into dangerous, repeatable moments.
As the statistics below show, despite ranking 30th in terms of corner kicks taken, Mainz scored more goals from these situations than any other side.
This shows how effective they really are, averaging a goal around every 10 corner kicks, which is one of the best ratios I have seen.
This tactical analysis will examine Mainz U19s’ attacking corner routines, focusing on how they use structured screens and well-timed runs to gain control of the penalty area.
We will explore how Mainz creates space for delivery and frees their target players, using a combination of floating screens, decoy runs, deep starting positions, and overloads to disrupt defensive organisation.
This set-piece analysis will dissect Mainz’s approach to opening key areas and allowing the intended receiver to arrive unopposed, with screens and coordinated movement enabling high-quality chances.
This structured preparation allows them to adapt routines flexibly, targeting both near and far post zones depending on the opposition, while maintaining strong foundations for second-phase opportunities.
The Floating Screen
One of Mainz’s most effective weapons has been what I call the “floating screen.”
It is a screen directed at a man-marking defender, offering more flexibility than when targeting a zonal defender.
A screen against a zonal defender means the timing has to be perfect.
The block must occur in a specific area of the box, and the delivery must be aimed exactly at that zone, with the right timing.
Mistime it, and the screen becomes irrelevant.
Too late, and the defender can step forward to attack the ball; too early, and they have time to evade the screen.
Floating screens work like dominoes.
With dominoes, one action sets off the next in a sequence; the taker’s signal sets off the attacker’s run, which triggers the screen.
As a result, the full process is controlled and dependent on one man.
Screens made on zonal defenders can be compared to wheels in a cog, where each element and every wheel has to turn at exactly the right moment, or the whole system breaks down.
This system is dependent on multiple people and, therefore, more likely to have communication and timing failures.
All Mainz players involved are required to make a good decision, increasing the margin for error.
With man-marking, the screen has more freedom in both timing and positioning.
It can be set early in the attacker’s run or much later, and as long as it makes contact and leaves the attacker unopposed, it is effective.
This flexibility gives the screen setter multiple chances to act, while shifting the responsibility of timing onto the attacker’s run.
The further the attacker is from the ball’s landing zone, the more decisive the attacker’s movement is, as he has to pick the right moment to accelerate.
Because the screen setter is focused on the defender and may not even see the ball, letting the attacker’s movement dictate the moment of contact makes the floating screen both simple and reliable.
The clip below shows how the player highlighted in red screening is only focused on the opponent.
At the same time, the attacker in green is able to focus on timing his arrival into the box, without having any concern about the player marking him, and the arrival allows him to generate power in the headed effort.
— Footie Clips (@FootieClips) September 1, 2025
In situations where the attacking side has a +1 overload in the penalty box between attackers and man-markers, this method is hard to defend against, as there will always be a 2-v-1 somewhere.
Of course, it is possible to defend this if the opposition defender who should originally mark the screener starts to track the attacker, swapping markers with his teammate, but it is only possible in situations when the number of attackers and defenders are equal.
One criticism, and something that may be a result of not analysing senior football, is the lack of anticipation in this screen taking place.
In both the clips above and below, it is clear that the Mainz players highlighted in red are oriented towards the marker of the player highlighted in green and are already making contact with them.
Displaying the intention so early tells you that the screen will happen, and the opponent defender can already prepare to track a different runner.
At this level, the opponents fail to read this and allow the player in green to attack the ball unopposed, but the lack of disguise makes this easy to read.
— Footie Clips (@FootieClips) September 1, 2025
Combining both screens on man-marking players to free up an attacker to arrive uncontested and screens on zonal players to free up an open space for the ball to arrive safely.
When both the run and the zonal screen coordinate and move to the same space, corner kicks are at their maximal efficiency, and as we see in the clip below, first contacts can almost always be guaranteed in these cases.
— Footie Clips (@FootieClips) September 1, 2025
Another tool that can be used to gain advantages in winning the first contact is changing the starting position for the attacker.
When the attacker starts further away from goal, the defender has two options.
Either stay away or wait for the attacker to arrive.
If the attacker changes direction, they may not be able to get there in time.
This would also give the attacker enough time to build up momentum to gain an advantage in an aerial duel.
The other option is to start close to the attacker, but doing so increases the amount of space the defender has to cover.
If the screen and run is timed right, the defender has no chance to recover his position, and so being so far from goal can be risky and dangerous for defenders.
— Footie Clips (@FootieClips) September 1, 2025
Decoy runs are another way of dealing with man-markers.
They drag them away from the desired area or player, who is then freed from opponents.
Again, this is a tool that is most effective when the attacking side has a +1 overload.
The first wave of attackers make an early movement to drag the markers with them, which then frees up the extra player, who can make his movement towards the ball completely unopposed.
— Footie Clips (@FootieClips) September 1, 2025
As is important with every corner kick routine, there needs to be a good level of timing and coordination to it.
The screens and decoy runs can be used to open a window, and the attacker needs to make the run in that window.
Mainz have shown a particular strength in their ability to coordinate for every routine, whether targeting the near post, far post or anything in between.
Mainz display excellent preparation and communication through how every player pulls in the same direction.
— Footie Clips (@FootieClips) September 1, 2025
A particular favourite routine of mine can be seen in the clips below.
Four Mainz attackers start together, while two players start in close proximity to the goalkeeper.
One of the two players close to the goalkeeper makes a run to the near side of the six-yard box.
His role has two main objectives.
Firstly, he must attempt to flick the ball towards the other arriving teammates, or shoot on goal if possible.
This run helps to guarantee the first contact, as he arrives in front the nearest zonal defenders.
I like this particular run being made, and I advise it for all corner kicks, as it helps to act as cover in case a corner kick is ever underhit.
The run prevents the other team from easily volleying the ball out of the penalty area, allowing the ball to stay in the final third for second-phase opportunities even if the first contact is lost.
Secondly, the run in front of the zonal defenders can also act as a decoy run, dragging defenders away from the central areas of the penalty area.
Even if the delivery is not meant for the near post, this run can be highly valuable for creating chaos around the penalty area.
— Footie Clips (@FootieClips) September 1, 2025
The second Mainz player close to the goalkeeper is used as a block on the goalkeeper to prevent them from being able to easily intercept the cross.
A block on the goalkeeper can be massively influential, allowing the ball to be delivered into high-value areas close to the goal.
Even if the keeper is able to make contact with the ball, if the screen is attempted, the keeper won’t be able to make clean contact, helping the team keep the ball in the final third.
Usually, because of the keepers ability to use his arms, most balls arriving in the six-yard box are more easy to intercept.
In this particular example, the block on the goalkeeper is poor for a number of reasons.
Firstly, as with many different movements in the box, the principle of arriving in a space appliers.
By starting in front of the goalkeeper instead of arriving there, the defender can easily track this movement and push him out of the way of the goalkeeper.
The goalkeeper is also easily able to avoid this as he can see the attackers position, and adjust his position to be able to evade the block and claim the ball.
However, while the screen is not strong, standing close to the goalkeeper is enough to discourage him from coming off his line.
As he trips over the foot of his defender, the ball arrives in the six-yard box.
— Footie Clips (@FootieClips) September 1, 2025
The last element of this routine is the ‘train’ starting positions of the attackers.
By starting behind one another, the defenders should be unable to start close to their marker.
In this particular example, the players aren’t so close to each other, giving defenders the opportunity to get tight.
But if each player was right behind the next, it would give each player the space needed to build momentum to accelerate away from their defender or to arrive with enough speed to have the advantage in the aerial duel.
However, even with the larger spacing, each player in the train is able to use the player and the defender in front as an obstacle to create added distance between himself and his marker, with the player in orange clearly showing how this can happen.
The Mainz player in green is able to arrive and score a goal by simply using his agility, speed and timing to gain separation from his marker.
— Footie Clips (@FootieClips) September 1, 2025
One final routine that I find to be top quality is a short corner routine that Eddie Howe has used with both Bournemouth and Newcastle in the Premier League.
The pass is played short, and the receiver touches the ball away from the goal.
As he moves away, he rolls the ball behind him so that the corner taker can run onto the ball and make the cross from a more favourable position.
From the new position, the goalkeeper must cover the near post, making the chip to the back post a clear option for the attackers to target.
Due to the runner arriving slightly too late, the defender is able to clear the corner, but the routine gives the attacking side a clear opportunity to attack the back post and make the cross from a better position, making it more reliable.
— Footie Clips (@FootieClips) September 1, 2025
Conclusion
Mainz U19s’ approach is effective because of the variety of routines and the clarity of their coordination.
From floating screens and near-post runs to goalkeeper blocks and the “train” starting positions, each movement is purposeful, designed to either create separation for a runner or open valuable space inside the box.
Even when the execution isn’t flawless, the structure of these routines gives Mainz U19s a consistent platform to compete in aerial duels and sustain pressure in the final third.
As the clips show, their strength lies in their preparation, and Mainz U19s ensure their set-pieces are less about chance and more about creating repeatable, high-quality opportunities.
