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Football: crossing

crossing DRILLS
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1-2 and cross

Set up as shown. Player 1 starts with the ball in the middle of the field and plays a 1-2 pass with player 2 before passing out wide to player 3. At this point, players 1 and 2 run towards the penalty area, ready to receive a cross, while one of the defenders goes out wide to put pressure on the crosser. Player 3 will cross the ball into the box where players 1 and 2 will try to beat the defender to it and score.

Crossing and Finishing

2 Player Crossing Drill

Players on the wing run with the ball down the side of the pitch before crossing for an attacker who has ran into the area, usually at the far post. Attackers begin further back than the wingers and in line with the corner of the penalty area. Once the coach blows his whistle, the attacker must sprint at full speed to reach the area and get on the end of the cross.

Crossing and Finishing

Crossing and Finishing Drill

Position 5 Attacking players as shown on the diagram and a GK in the goal. Pass 1 --> 2 --> 3 --> 4 --> 5; with 5 running round from behind 4 to collect the pass. Have a mannequin set up either side of player 4. After a player has made a pass they will move into the starting position of the person they have passed to. Form a line of players ready to make it a continuous drill. This should be repeated on each side.

Crossing and Finishing

Crossing from Channel Players

1) Only wide players allowed in channel. 2) A goal must come from a cross or direct result of a crossed ball. 3) Compete 5 v 5 in middle and limit to 2 touches. Wide players have unlimited touches. 4) Condition game and coach what you see.

Conditioned games

Dungeons and Dragons

Set out as many gates as possible within the area (2 discs, 2 yards apart). Each player has a ball. Group in pairs. Player 1 must dribble through as many gates as possible in a specified time limit. Player 2 must try and shadow his partner and each time he is able to kick his ball and it hits the ball of his partner, Player 1 loses a point. One point per gate.

Dribbling

Shoot, Recover, Finish

Make a pitch from the edge of one penalty box to the same the other end, full width. Set up a goal with a GK at each end. A group of Attackers start in the centre circle. A group of Defenders start offset to the left of them. The coach feeds the ball in to and Attacker and they run forward to a 1 vs 1 situation with 1 Defender. The Attacker should take on the Defender and attempt to score. Once the Attacker has taken a shot they recover in an arc to receive a ball cross in from the right side. As this is going on, when the GK at the other end has seen the coach pass the first ball then they pass the ball to a player in the fullback position out to the right (F). F passes the ball down the line to a winger (W), who will be the one to cross the ball in after the Attacker has taken their first shot. At the same time the exact same is happening at the other end of the pitch. Players move positions: The Attacker becomes the F for the other side, attacking in the other direction. F follows their pass to become the W, the W joins the line of Attackers. Rotate the Defenders after 5 minutes. Play different progressions/variations for about 30 minutes in total. Includes breaks for water and feedback to the players

Crossing and Finishing

Team Crossing and Finishing Drill 2

The crossing player starts with the ball on the half-way line before coming forward and playing one-two's with the players in the cones, while continuing their run forward down the wing. After recieving the second pass, the crosser will now cross into the box, where two attackers will try to beat two defenders and a goalkeeper to the ball and score. The attackers start in the coned area outside the penalty area and sprint into the box once the crosser has received their second pass.

Crossing and Finishing

Team Crossing and Finishing Drill

Player 2 sets up player 1 to hit a diagonal ball to player 3, before this player lays the ball back to player 4 who moves onto ball at match pace and hits a cross into either the near or far posts. Players 5 and 6 move onto ball to finish, while the crossers may recycle ball if it comes wide, by crossing it back into the box. Repeat the drill from the other side.

Crossing and Finishing

World Cup Headers

Groups of 4 players are paired and stationed on the sides of the area as shown in the diagram. Each team takes on the identity of a World Cup Team. The object of the game is to head the ball past the opposing team and over the opposing goal line. The player in possession serves the ball to his teammate to head towards the opposing goal line. The defending team must attempt to stop the ball from crossing their end line without using their hands. Once the ball has been stopped, the receiving player picks the ball up and serves the ball to his partner to repeat in the opposite direction. If a team heads a ball straight back and scores, the team gets 2 points.

Heading

Back Post Corner Crossing and ...

Again, the signal made between player and corner taker before the ball is played into the box.A player should be on the front post, with three attackers making runs into the area between the back post and the six-yard line. They should attack the goal by heading, or look for an alternative player.

General

Crossing from Channel Players ...

1) Only wide players allowed in channel. 2) A goal must come from a cross or direct result of a crossed ball. 3) Compete 5 v 5 in middle and limit to 2 touches. Wide players have unlimited touches. 4) Condition game and coach what you see.

General

Scoring From Crosses Crossing ...

Player 2 receives the ball from player 1. <BR> Player 2 receives the ball on the half turn towards the touchline. <BR> Player 2 travels with the ball and crosses the ball into the penalty area for the attacking player.

General

Pass Wide, Cross and Attacking...

Players line up in 3 queues, with the ball starting with player 1. Player 1 makes a 1-2 pass with player 2 before passing the ball down the line for player 3 to run onto. Player 3 times their run to meet the pass and gets the ball under control before swinging a cross into the box for the players 1 and 2 to run onto and head into the goal.

General

Attacking the Crossed Ball Cro...

Organize groups of 6. Station goalkeepers in a goal at each end line. Place 2 players inside the area and 2 wide players outside the area. Goalkeepers should have a supply of balls. Repeat in another area for a total of 12 players. White goalkeeper distributes the ball to player white 1, who advances the ball up the touchline with his first touch and crosses the ball to player white 2 with his second touch. Keepers must stay on their line throughout the practice. Repeat in the opposite direction from red goalkeeper to red player 1 and red player 2. The wide player should attempt to vary his crosses to near, middle and far post positions.

General

Run and Pass Crossing and Fini...

Player 1 (red) runs the ball to the third cone. They then play a diagonal pass across to the player on the opposite side. The player on the opposite side runs to the third cone in tandem with Player 1 (red) and also plays a diagonal pass to Player 2 Red. Repeat. After making the pass players should chase their pass across so that they force the nearest player to get the ball out of their feet quickly.

General

Wonder Wingers Crossing and Fi...

Set up 4 meter wide channels along each sideline. Play 3 vs 3 in the middle area (between the channels) with a goalkeeper at both ends. Station one player in each channel. The object of the game is to get the ball to your wide player as quickly as possible. As soon as the wide player receives the ball they should sprint to the goal line and cross the ball in towards the goal to their team mates who are attacking the near and far posts.

General

3 v 2 Crossing and Finishing -...

Set up 2 goals 10-15m apart. Divide in to 2 groups and line up either side of the goals.3 from one side and 2 from the other enter.The 3 must beat the defender and score

General

Corner Delivery Crossing and F...

Once the signal has been given between a player and the corner taker, the ball is then crossed into the box. Three players should be making runs into the box from the edge of the area, and attacking the ball, with a player also on the front post to attack or flick the ball on.

General

Finding space - Team exercise ...

Player 2 curves their run away from the passer before then cutting back to the ball. Player 2 receives the ball and turns towards goal in 1 fluid motion. Player 2 then delivers a cross for the waiting centre forward.

General

Use the width to get up the pi...

Red 1 passes the ball to one of the teams to start the game. There should be 3 players in both wings and 8 players in the centre of the pitch. The wing players cannot be tackled and the central players are not allowed into the wing areas. In order to score a goal the team in possession must make 5 consecutive passes before passing out to their wide man. The wide players must both touch the ball before it is crossed in for the team in possession to attack it, with the other team defending the cross. After an attack on goal has been made the ball returns to red 1 who feeds the ball out to the other team.

General

2 Goal Finishing Shooting - Fo...

Set up a second goal as shown in the diagram.Player 1 starts standing behind a mannequin, positioned outside of the penalty box left hand corner.Player 2 is about 10m further down the pitch in line with Player 1. Player 2 passes the ball to player 1 and runs to the inside side of the mannequin for the lay off.Player 2 takes a shot at the left goal.At the same time as this Player 1, loops behind their run and enters the penalty box to receive a cross from Player 3, at the far right side.Play in both directions to practice crossing and shooting from each side.

General

Double cross - Twice the chanc...

Player 1 starts the drill of by passing the ball to the wide player. The wide player then crosses the ball into the box on their first touch for both the attacking players to run onto and attack (near and far post runs). Immediately after the two strikers have headed for goal the opposite wide player then delivers in another cross into the box. After the second cross players swap roles (crossers join the queue and the attackers become the two next crossers).

General

Mirrors Dribbling - Football D...

Group in pairs. One ball per pair. Position one player on each side of an imaginary line made by the discs. Repeat in 5 other areas for a total of 12 players. One player starts with the ball. Neither player is allowed to cross the imaginary line. The player in possession of the ball attempts to dribble to either of the discs before the defender touches the very same disc. Repeat practice with the other player in possession. To encourage feints, try doing the practice first without a ball, then with.

General

1, 2, 3 Pass and Move Passing ...

There are two triangles in this drill, both using the same top point player (player 5). Players in the top triangle pass in an anti-clockwise direction and players in the lower triangle pass in a clock-wise direction. Both pairs of players must use the middle player as their third passing option.

General

Play ball wide Crossing and Fi...

Player 1 playes the ball to player 2 to draw the defender player 2 passes the ball back to player 1 when the defender comes close to player 1 player 1 passes the ball wide to player 3 who runs down the wing and crosses the ball into the box either to the near or far post depending on where the defender moves to.

General

Over Under and In Between Cond...

Position players as shown in the diagram, with one ball between each team. Player 1 passes the ball overhead to player 2, who passes the ball through their legs to player 3, who passes the ball overhead to player 4. When the ball gets to the back of the line, the last player runs to the front and repeats the exercise.

General

crossing DRILL CATEGORIES
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Crossing and Finishing Drills
Crossing and Finishing Drills
crossing SESSIONS
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Crossing Champions - Improving...

Give your wide players the chance to drive down the wings and deliver the ball into the opposition's penalty area for your attackers to put away!

Improving body positioning and shaping of runs

Keep the attacking fire burning and get your players opening up their body, thinking about their first touch and angling their runs up field

Finish the Chance!

Get your players comfortable in front of goal so that when the chances come, they have a cool head to finish clinically, even when the odds are against them. Also, give your goalkeepers a great testing session with it.

Shooting: Crossing and Finishing

Deliver the pas to set up a simple finish for your strikers. Scoring goals will win you the game so make sure you are providing the easiest chances to give your strikers the best chance of putting it in the net.

Corner Set Piece - Getting players to attack the cross

Introduce players to corner set-pieces and teach them how to time their runs and head home with confidence

Crossing & Finishing

Exploit the flanks and get your wide players whipping balls into the danger areas for your forwards to put away. Work on the delivery into the box and the forwards movements to anticipate and reach the cross.

Crossing and Finishing

Utilising the width with wingers able to deliver a pin-point ball for your strikers is a proven way to breed success.

Crossing Champions - Improving crossing conversion

Use the width of the football pitch to get your players driving down the wings and crossing the ball into the opposition's penalty area for your attackers

Crossing and Finishing - Attacking Confidence Session

Let's get your players making effective crosses and attacking them inside the box to power home the attacking header!

Heading Confidence - Part II

In part two we up the ante, by building some variety into your players' technique, working on heading control and power!

Position Specific Crossing

Improve your team's crossing game - From defensive clearances to scoring goals - working on all positions from defence to attack!

Shooting and Crossing - Attack and Finish Session

Hit the target and work their keeper, that's the philosophy for this sharp shooting session as we test your attackers' ability to hit the target under pressure!
crossing ANSWERS
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how can I progress this session?

Cedric Pisani Coach, Malta

Coaching the defences at attack from flanks?

Any suggestions for coaching the defences at attack from flanks?

Away Ng Coach, Hong Kong

TRAINING SESSION HELP !

Has anyone got any good sessions on ither passing, shooting or crossing if you have could you email them that would be brilliant thanks

Archived User Coach

Annual training plan for U15 players?

HI all, how can I prepare an annual training plan for football under 15 aged athletes? If you have a sample plan please attach it to your answer. Thanks!

Archived User Coach

Goalkeeper tips for dealing with crosses?

goalkeeper defend against crosses in 9v9 in half ground

zakeer hussain Coach, India

Good drills for attacking and defending corners and crossing?

What are good drills to teach corners and/or crossing. Attacking and defending?

Scott Coach, England

Developing Dribble Dash

Hi all ,As part of my course I have to develop dribble dash into more of a game format.Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.Thanks

Bill Campbell Coach, England

skill building drills for co-ed outdoor team

I am co-coaching a high school co-ed homeschool group(ages 13-17) There has been very little actual coaching before I volunteered to coach. skill levels are all over the place. I am looking for team drills that involve as many players as possible that will build basic skills and start teaching each player how the game should look when being played during an actual game. there are 24-30 kids at practices. help, please.

Korena Quattlebaum Coach, United States of America
crossing COMMUNITY DRILLS
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BallersOnly Game1

Crossing #2

Crossing from wide areas

Crossing Technique

Cross with overlap

Overlapping and Crossing

Crossing and Distribution

Crossing

Through The Gates

Practicing attacking runs using wingers

Crossing #1

Crossing and finishing

Shooting & Crossing

Touch off Pass wide to Goal Square Cross

Passing Drill

crossing WEB VIDEOS
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