Crossing & Finishing

Objectives

• -Deliver quality crosses from wide areas
• -Attack near post, far post and the edge of the box
• -Score from wide play

How to set it up

1. 1Mark out the working area at Attacking third. Put a cone on each corner so the boundary is obvious to the players.
2. 2Wide channels marked either side of the box.
3. 3Goal and keeper, balls with the wide players.
4. 4Three attackers start centrally.
5. 5Place the goals before you start and check the run-off behind them is clear and safe.
6. 6Kit for this practice: Balls, Cones, Full Goals, Poles. Keep a supply of spare balls beside the coach so a lost ball never stops the practice.
7. 7Split 8-18 players into two or three even groups. Run two stations side by side if you have the space, so lines never grow beyond four players.
8. 8Set the area up before the players arrive, then walk them through the shape once at a jog before the first live repetition.

How to run it, step by step

1. 1Get the players into position and walk the first repetition through slowly so everybody knows where they start and where they go.
2. 2Winger dribbles the channel and crosses on the second or third touch.
3. 3Three attackers fill near post, penalty spot and back post.
4. 4After their action each player follows their pass and joins the back of the next line, so everybody rotates through every position in the practice.
5. 5Every repetition finishes with a strike at goal. As soon as the ball leaves the striker's foot the next player starts, so the practice keeps flowing.
6. 6Freeze the practice once or twice per round, make one coaching point to the whole group, then restart immediately.

What each player does

Working player

Takes the repetition: receives, executes the crossing action and finishes the sequence at match pace.

Server

Delivers a consistent, firm ball on the coach's call, then collects a spare ball ready for the next repetition.

Goalkeeper

Sets before every strike, works the save, then distributes to restart the next attack rather than kicking the ball away.

Waiting players

Stand behind the start cone with a ball ready, watch the repetition in front of them and step in the moment it finishes.

Coach

Stands where the whole picture is visible, serves or calls the start, and makes one clear point per freeze.

Timings and organisation

• -Volume for this practice: Alternate sides every rep.
• -Run 5 rounds of roughly 4 minutes inside the 20 minute slot.
• -Give 45-60 seconds of rest between rounds so the quality of the work stays high, and use that gap for your coaching point.
• -Rotate roles at the end of every round so each player works, serves and defends across the practice.
• -If the practice is too easy, move to a progression rather than adding more repetitions. If players are struggling, drop to a regression for one round and then build back up.

Common mistakes

• -Overhitting into the keeper's hands
• -Attackers arriving in a straight line
• -Too many touches before crossing
• -Standing still and watching instead of moving into the next position