Football/Soccer Session (Moderate): Crossing and Finishing - U11 and U12

Fours (20 mins)

Set Up

Players work in groups on 4 - Cones/markers are a guideline Triangle set up - vary distance based upon age.

Organization

Players work in groups of four. Player 1 starts with the ball and plays the pass to player 2. Player two lays the ball off for 1 to drive a ball to player 3. Players 1 and 2 rotate positions. Players 3 and 4 repeat the process. You can vary the distance - start short and open it up so that the longer pass becomes a driven ball

Progression

B - Place a mannequin in the middle of the grid to replicate the first defender when crossing. the longer pass must now be whipped around the defender as you would in a cross or played over the top (Beat the first defender)

Coaching points

Quality of touch, driven or whipped cross/long pass, quality layoff

Transitional Crossing Game

Set Up

4v4 Scrimmage plus 4 on the outside as neutral wingers and a goalkeeper.

Players play in two teams in a 4v4 scrimmage going from left to right. If a player takes a shot at goal and it either goes in or goes out past the end line the scrimmage turns to the big goal. One of the wingers on the side of the field where the ball went out of play dribbles forward and puts a cross into the box. The cross is aimed at the players who took the shot. If they score in the game across the field they get one point. If they score in the big goal at the top of the field they get 3 points. The team that did not get the shot are defending and aim to stop the other team from scoring and get the ball back to the small sided game.

Coaching Points

Quality of passing, quality of cross, timing of run into the box, quality of finish on goal.

Game (20 mins)

Set up

Field 40 X 30 with regular goals as shown.

Organization

Teams will play 6 v 6 including Goalkeepers. Regular scrimmage game with emphasis on pthe defensive side of the game. Allow game to be free play but enforce coaching points of the day. If crosses are not happening naturally make the field more narrow and have kick ins at any height to re-enter the play.

Coaching Points

All of points portrayed throughout the session should be enforced in a game situation.