Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Dealing with crosses (incorporating breaking lines principle)

Dealing with crosses warm up (5 mins)

Set up/Organisation/Description:

• Area size ranging from 10 x 10 to 20 x 15 depending on age and stage
• Mannequins represent tennis net in middle, seperating area into 2 halves
• 2V2 or 3V3 GKs depending on numbers
• 7 aside goal placed centrally on back line of each side of pitch

Instructions/Explanations:

• GK throws ball over mannequins (like ball going over tennis net)
  
• Opposition GKs aim to prevent ball dropping on floor in their side of the court
• If ball lands in your side of the court after being thrown over mannequins then opposition score a point
• If you catch ball and prevent it from hitting ground, you can then attack oppositions court by returning with a throw
• If a GK successfully meets the ball high, they can pop it straight back over in 1 fluid movement (Encourages GKs to attack ball at highest point with efficient timing and forces opposition to constantly adjust positioning and be ready for returned high ball)
• Play to a points total i.e. first to 11 or a time limit i.e highest score after 3 minutes

Progression(s)

• Players can now throw or strike from floor/hands to try and score into the 7 aside goals to score a point in addition to throwing over mannequins and touching floor as before
• This forces GK to make decision on whether to defend goal or attack cross; encourages communication between GKs and also increases travelling to get to attack high ball (game-realism)
• Another GK or coach can position in the middle near the net (shown with red player) and intercept/ change flight of the ball to cause uncertainty and force quick transition movements i.e. if green throw high over net towards yellow half the coach may intercept and strike back at the green goal causing them to quickly readjust and set to defend the goal
  i.e. coach may catch the strike from green when yellow have dropped then pop it high forcing yellow GK to be positive and attack ball in the air
  
  

Dealing with crosses session incorporating breaking lines (15 mins)

Key Factors

• Starting position in relation to ball - prepare for shot or cross. Outside width of 18yd box (box 1) GK would generally be middle of the goal as is more likely to face a cross either front or back post. Inside the 18yd box but towards edge of 18yd box (box 2) GK will generally need to prepare for a shot but also be on front foot in case it is played across goal for another player running in. Inside the 18yd box towards goal line (box 3) GK will come towards front post and defend an imaginary goal from front post to 6yd line.
• Judge the flight of ball
• Catch the ball at highest point
• W technique mainly to be used, and hold ball
• May have option for the long barrier or scoop or cup
• Recovery runs towards middle of goal

Organisatio

• Coaching position will vary between behind the goal and the side of the goal depending on what is being observed. Coaching feedback will be concurrent and what / how based questions.
• Progression - servers deliver again in the same order but this time the GK is encouraged to start a counter attack by breaking lines to one of the wingers (goal A and C) or to a holding midfielder (goal B)