There are a variety of different crossing styles and techniques so you must outline the fundamentals to your players and allow them to figure out what crosses work best and when they work. This crossing and finishing soccer session will help your players do just that.
Crosses are an effective and direct method of creating opportunities and chances in soccer, typically from wide areas. Crosses can be played in the air, along the ground pulled back to the edge of the box, or played across the goal. The type of cross can be influenced by the movement of the attacking teammates, whereas the defenders and goalkeepers are too.
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Crossing and finishing session
Warm-up
Time: 10 minutes
Set up:
- 15×20 yard area
- 3 players per team with 1 soccer ball
- 2 goals
- cones to create 2-yard channels
Instructions:
Set up your area place 2 goals opposite each other on the 15-yard lines and Place a line of cones 2 yards in that run parallel with the 20-yard lines, this should create 2 channels.
The teams must work together to score as many goals as they can.
Once they have scored one goal they will try and score the opposite goal.
If players can score a goal where a teammate has crossed it from the wide area and can finish it the first time they will get 3 goals instead of 1.
If a team scores a goal where these conditions are not met it will be worth 1 goal
All players must be involved in the build-up to the goal.
Coaching points:
- Use the whole width of the area
- Head up before you cross the ball
- Players off the ball should be finding different spaces to attack the cross
Questions that can lead to coaching points:
- Where can go to find space if we do not have the ball?
- Before You cross the ball how do you know where your teammates are?
- Should both players go to the same space when the cross comes in?
Technical activity
Time: 25 minutes
Set up:
- 15×20 yard area
- 3 players per team with 1 soccer ball
- 2 players as defenders
- 4 goals
- cones to create 2-yard channels
Instructions:
With the same area ask 2 players to become defenders, they will be defending one larger goal.
The attacking team made up of 3 players will try to score the larger goal.
If they can score where the phase of play included a player receiving it in the wide area then they will get 3 goals instead of 1.
If the defending team score, they can score in the 3 smaller goals opposite for 1 goal.
Rotate defenders every 5 minutes.
Coaching points:
- Use the whole width of the area
- If you don’t have the ball create space for yourself to give your teammate an option
- Keep your head up so you can see the movements of your teammates
Questions that can lead to coaching points:
- Where can we find space?
- What can you do to create space for yourself to receive the ball?
- If you are on the ball where should you be looking? Why?
Conditioned game
Time: 25 minutes
Set up:
- 2 goals
- 25x 30-yard area
- 2 teams of 3
How the drill works:
Set up your 3v3 pitch with 2 channels on either length of the pitch.
This will be a regular scrimmage, however, if a team can score a goal with the assist coming from the player in the wide area the goal will be worth points instead of 1.
Coaching points:
- Be confident when going forward
- Keep your head up to see the movements of your teammates
- Be patient when crossing (try not to force the cross)
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