This activity is designed to improve the crossing technique of the wide players and the movement of the two forwards. Set a cone 5 yds from the sideline and 5 yds from half field. Place two more cones on each side of the circle about 5 yds from half field. Place a keeper in goal and split the rest of the team evenly behind the three cones at half field. One of the strikers starts the movement by switching the ball out to the wide player. Both forwards then make a run into the box, one getting to the near post and the other to the far post. Both forwards should avoid running in straight lines by crossing over before attacking the near and far posts. This type of movement makes it difficult for defenders to mark. The wide player receives the ball and dribbles to the end line where they cross the ball into the box. Switch play to go down the other side. Progression: add one defender ( 3 v 1), then 2 defenders (3 v 2), then 3 defenders (3 v 3). Add an attacking player to the outside following the same progression of adding defenders until it becomes a 4 v 4. Add another attacking line between and slightly behind the two forwards to simulate a center attacking midfielder. Have them trail the forwards and position themselves at the top of the arch for any second chance balls coming down the center. Any balls to them should either be an immediate shot or played back to the outside for another cross.
first touch of wide player is forward and outside. when running with the ball head should be up to notice the movement of the forwards. the direction of the cross is to swing away from the goal keeper in an area between the 6 yd box and the penalty spot (creates decision making problems for the goal keeper). fowards need to time runs in order to attack the ball or to combine to score goals. effective passes to the near or far post. if a center player is added in the progression, the run of that player should not be straight down the middle.
This practice has no coaching points
This practice has no progressions
in more ways than one
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