Written by Alex McLeish
Crossing and finishing warm up
This is a warm up to get players used to playing the ball wide and creating space for the wingers and the full-backs to cross into the strikers who must finish past the goalkeeper.
Coaching Objectives
Attacking play with build up play on the wing.
Wingers and full backs combination play.
Try to pass forward to keep play going forward.
Crosses should be played in the space between the goalkeeper and the defending players.
Crosses should be along the ground in this warm up.
Movement of strikers to cover front and back posts key to success.
Drill Setup
- 10 Mins
- 9 Players
- 1 Goals
- Half Pitch y
What the Players Do
You need to use 2 mannequins set up as defensive full-backs 25 yards from goal and a supply of balls with coaches on the half way line. The centre midfielders receive the ball and play a pass…Crossing and Finishing phase of play
In this small-sided game players are crossing into areas that attackers can shoot at goal from. Look for good build up play into the attackers. In the progression the 4 neutral players link up with the team in possession creating overloads
Coaching Objectives
Play out from the back into the full-backs
Build up play from defence into midfield to create space to pass the ball to the wide neutral players
Good technique to cross the ball with different angles and different heights
Technique to cross should be supporting foot next to ball, use toe/instep to cross the ball with height and distance
Defending players should be pressing the ball and trying to block crosses
Drill Setup
- 25 Mins
- 16 Players
- 2 Goals
- 5 yellow 4 red Bibs
- Double 18 yard box y
What the Players Do
Play 5v5 with 4 neutral wide players and goalkeepers. Formation for each team should be 2-1-2. Strikers and defenders cannot cross half way line. Only the 4 neutral players can go in…Crossing and Finishing game
In this game the attacking team is trying to move the ball wide breaking down the defence to create goal scoring opportunities. Coaching points will develop as play advances and teams make mistakes in attack and defence.
Coaching Objectives
Attacking
- Attacking team must create depth and width to create space in and behind defence
- Speed of play should be quick with one and two touch play
- Make sure players are scanning the pitch so they know where to pass when they get the ball
- Crosses from wide players create goal scoring opportunities and rebounds saves need to be finished offensively
- Look for one-touch shooting
- Be aware of transitions of the ball
Defence
- Try not to leave gaps the attackers can exploit.
- Win 1v1s and stay with player in combination play – like 1-2s
- Win the second ball/rebound in the area in front of goal
- Be aware of transitions to counter attack.
Drill Setup
- 30 Mins
- 16 Players
- 1 Goals
- 7 yellow 1 purple Bibs
- Half pitch y
What the Players Do
Split into two teams, one of 8 players in a 2-4-2 formation who are the attacking team and a team of 7 + a goalkeeper set up GK-4-2 with one player at the end that is a target player for the team of 8…Continue Reading For Free
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