Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Dealing with crosses

EX2 (20 mins)

Set up

• 8 players including GKs with 3 mannequins

Organization

Drill starts with white players playing a pass to the red players who may cross or prepare to his teammate for a cross, players inside the box act as opponents and try to score, if the GK catches the ball he plays a distribution using feet or hands to whether the white or black player, if the cross gets through all the players inside the box or is punched by the GK out of the box, black player gets involved and chose to shot or cross the ball, rotate GKs every two crosses.

Progression

• One red player join the players inside the box and only one stays on the flank, the remaining red player may go for a wide cross or dribble with the ball towards the shaded area and plays a lofted pass to the 2nd post.

Coaching points

• Work on catching the ball in front the players/mannequins rather than behind them
• Work on standing on the edge of the 6yd box when the ball is up the pitch with the white player, dropping back when ball is moving

• Key Factors
  

  • Focus on the ball with an open body – see ball and players
    
  • Judge the flight of the ball - as ball is struck wait 2 seconds and attack it
  • starting position, in relation to the ball and see ball and players – Generally outside the width of
    the 18yd box, the GK will be central to the goal, as the ball is more than likely to be crossed and this could be to the front or back post.
    
    

SSG (25 mins)

Set up

• Pitch 40*30, 2 18 yd boxes
  • 2 players of each team behind the line staying on the opposite side

Organisation

Possession game starts with the players in the middle, after 5 successful passes , they look for teammates behind the line for a crosse, all players in the middle are involved 3v3, no pressure on the wingers

Progression

• Players behind the line are free to move along the flank without crossing the line and pressure is allowed
• Allow them to cross the line for a shot or cut back

Regression

• Make the pitch bigger using half of the pitch if needed to keep pressure away from GK for little while and switch back to same size again
  

Coaching points

• Work on different types of crosses
• Work on staying positive and sharp
• Work on decision making for GK (catch punch)

• Key Factors
  

  • Play through around or over
  • Rolling arm moves backwards
    
  • Release the ball as arm straightens
    
  • Release the ball just as throwing arm goes
    past ear

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

• The main challenge we may face here is if the ball keeps going from a flank to another without being touched by any players in the middle , so the rule should be if this happens, the player on the opposite side go for a shot or not allowed for a second cross and game restart from the middle.
• The target is to challenge GKs to face a variety of crosses and get them staying always positive to the game with a good position in relation the ball