Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Crossing and Finishing in Zone 4

Integrated Warm up (20 mins)

THE SESSION:

- 30x40 yard area between penalty area and halfway line.

- 4v4 (or as your numbers dictate) in box with 2 target players (crossers). 

- After the passing target is reached they look to play pass into the crossing target. The passing target must switch ball by playing long diagonal pass into path of crossing target. 

- As that happens 4 attackers and 2 defenders can break into box. Target crosses ball in for attackers to score.

PROGRESSIONS:

- Change pass target

- Take away diagonal ball and any of the two targets can deliver

- Allow more recovering defenders

- Allow less attackers breaking out

KEY MESSAGES/POINTS:

- Timing of Forward Runs

- Movement to deceive defenders

- Technique of Cross

- Technique of Finish

- Possession

Slice Of The Game (20 mins)

THE SESSION:

Set the area as seen in the image above, with 2 teams of Red and Blue and 3 defenders who are Yellow (select Centre Backs from the team) and two boxes.

Each team takes it in turn, to attack the goal.

The practice starts with a 4v2 in the square. The green line (or line of cones) represents the offside line. Players can combine in any way they wish to set one player away to provide a cross. The player who crosses the ball can do so anywhere inside the shaded area.

Play for 5 minutes, both teams keep score and the team with the most points wins at the end of time. Switch ends after each round to change the crossing angle.

PROGRESSIONS:

-Add pass limit in box

-Add defenders

-Make area smaller

KEY MESSAGES/POINTS:

-Quick Combinations - Players should use intelligence movement to lose a defender to play quick combinations with quality passes in wide areas to finish with a cross.

-Quality of Cross - To have a better chance of scoring, players should concentrate on their technique to use driven and lofted crosses to create the best chances to score.

-Quality Movement in the Box - Strikers need to use clever movement to lose defenders and create space for themselves to score from crosses (two runs, one for the defender, one for the striker).