Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Dealing with Crosses - Full Session (Start Time: 2022-01-27 09:15:00)

Screen 2 (15 mins)

Dealing with Crosses (Technique Practice):

Target: Catching the crossing attempts at different heights and angles

Structure: 15 minutes       Number of Goalkeepers: 3

Organization: 20x20m area

Equipment: Balls, goal and large cones

Explanation:

1) One of the goalkeepers starts the drill inside the box while the coach and other goalkeepers act as the servers.

2) Server 1 (coach) releases the ball on the air and the goalkeeper is supposed to rush out of the goal and perform high catch technique to save the ball then he should send the ball back to the coach's hand and return to the goal in order to be prepared to deal with a crossing attempt made by server 2.

3) Once the goalkeeper has caught the cross made by server 2, he should send the ball to server 3 through hand distribution techniques. Next, the server 3 will cross the ball and the goalkeeper should catch the ball and send it to server 2.

4) Although goalkeepers are allowed to punch/deflect the ball, the main priority is to catch it.

5) In case of deflecting/punching the ball, it must be sent to an area where the is safe and away enough from the goal.

6) The mechanics of catching the ball regarding crosses including proper position, appropriate speed, catching the ball as high/forward as possible, body balance, timing, decision making, securing the goal, keeping the body behind the ball, using one foot to protect the body and safe landing should be taken into account.

7) The coach should mention the mechanics and remind the goalkeepers of safety issues (e,g,, protecting body and landing) to increase the quality of sessions and avoid injuries.

8) The mechanics can be demonstrated verbally or physically based on the goalkeepers' competency level and age group.

9) The coach can intervene and freeze the session if he observes a noticeable mistake made by the goalkeepers (inappropriate hand/body position or unsuitable position based on the server's spot). In addition, concurrent interventions and conversations following the drill/training session can be useful.

10) Once the goalkeeper is used to the drill, the servers can cross the ball at various heights (e.g., low driven crosses).

Coaching Points:

• Initial position and avoid staying on the line
• Eyes fixed on the ball and maintain the balance
• Knees and ankles fixed
• Be on toes and ready to lunch
• Speed, acceleration and deceleration prior to catching the ball
• Decision making (e.g., high catch or sliding dive)

• Body and hands behind the ball while catching it on the air
• Protect body

• Follow the ball if it goes out of the hands
• Quality landing action
• Hand distrbution

Screen 4 (20 mins)

Dealing with Crosses (SSG):

Target: Creating chances in wide areas and dealing with crosses

Structure: Two 9-minute blocks, two minutes for interventions and rest     Number of Players: 3 goalkeepers and 8 players

Organization: 35x35m area size    Equipment: Two goals, balls, bibs, disc markers and cons

Explanation:

1) The session runs with players in red and blue teams (4v4) being supported by teal wingers behind red cons as floaters.

2) One of the goalkeepers starts rolling ball to his teammates who are supposed to feed wingers in order to benefit from crossing balls. The attacking team should make 3 passes prior to sending the ball to wing areas.

3) Attacking team's players should cover the near post, central striking area and the far post during crosses during the first block.

4) Once the second block has been announced, one of the wingers who does not possess the ball joins the attacking team at the far post, hence one of the attacking players must stay back for pullback passes (behind the disc markers), increasing striking options to four.

5) Goals scored by wingers at the far post will be counted triple.

6) Goalkeepers can get their team one point by successfully catching/deflecting/punching a cross then they can directly feed the wingers.

7) The mechanics of dealing with crosses should be taken into account.

8) The drill could be explained by using a technical board or coaches can verbally demonstrate it and point out the crucial areas (e.g., wide areas).

9) To avoid reducing ball rolling time, the coach is suggested to employ concurrent intervention while the ball is away from a goalkeeper. Furthermore, the rest time is a great opportunities to intervene with the goalkeepers. Nevertheless, the coach can freeze the SSG depending on the situation to achieve the main goal of creating crossing situations and dealing with these particular scenarios. It is highly important to have the goalkeepers viewpoint on the SSG after the session. The GK coach should observe the SSG to evaluate the goalkeepers' ability to deal with crosses and plan his further sessions regarding the topic based on the goalkeepers' performance.

10) The goalkeepers should swap the goals in the second block. The third goalkeeper stays near the main goal to rotate after each goal conceded by the goalkeeper staying in that goal, making all the goalkeepers experience performing inside the box.

Coaching Points:

• Be aware of the ball's position during the SSG

• Distance form the ball

• Initial position and avoid staying on the line
• Eyes fixed on the ball and maintain the balance
• Knees and ankles fixed
• Be on toes and ready to lunch
• Speed, acceleration and deceleration prior to catching the ball
• Decision making (e.g., high catch or sliding dive)
• Communication

• Body and hands behind the ball while catching it on the air
• Protect body

• Follow the rebounds

• Quality landing action
• General distribution