Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Crossing Progression (Start Time: 2015-11-30 16:10:00)

Initial Movement (5 mins)

Direction should be controlled by the coach to ensure that players work both directions (make the drill alternate with direction the dribbler chooses and switch the accompanying runs).

Coaching points:

Keeper- Close dribbler down all the way to near post and force the cross. Decision making on to either attempt to collapse/dive to intercept the pass or to slide and try to cover the shot.

Dribbler- Drive to end line to set up short cross. Should be delivered on the ground, back across the top of the 6 box. If keeper does not cover near post, put on goal.

Runners- Time your runs so you are still moving when you strike the cross. Do not go lower than the 6 box to give a good angle for the pass (the lower you go the easier it is on the keeper). Backside runner should be further away from the end line to account for the diagonal pass.

Full Crossing (5 mins)

Begin by a pass into the corner position player, should alternate initial direction, who will cross it into the box for the incoming runners (backside corner player will enter play once as ball is passed to the opposite side). Cross should be struck on goal in the shaded area. Keeper plays the ball live. If the ball leaks through, the backside player that has entered play can re-cross the ball from a short cross position.

Coaching points:

Crosser- Good ball control receiving a pass from the mid-field player, controlled in such a way he is set up to quickly put a quality cross in. Ball needs to be driven across the face of the goal, far enough out (shaded area) so the keeper cannot make a play on it.

Keeper- Read ball flight and make a clear decision to intercept the cross or slide across to defend any redirection on goal.

Runners- Stay in your attacking lane, give other runners space, and clear communication on who is to redirect on goal. Finish on frame.

Backside player- Be available to collect if the ball goes through the box and send back in, reading new attacking players positions and locating the keeper.

Add defenders (5 mins)

Here we add two defenders in the box. The cross can come after the initial pass, or after a drop pass to a showing player. This is based on the player’s ability to read the defensive player and make a correct decision. After players develop an understanding of what they are expected to do, I place time limits from initial pass to shot on frame. Starting at 10 seconds and getting quicker from there.

Coaching points.

Field players- Similar to the 2 previous crossing variations. Good spacing, communication, and finish on frame. Add; use movement to create passing lanes to receive the ball through the defenders.

Defenders- focus on 1st defender giving ball pressure and the 2nd defender providing support. Once as the ball is moved, readjust correctly.

Keeper- Communicate to the defenders. Be in position and correct cover movement to limit the amount of open goal the on ball attacker sees.