Crossing, finishing and defending

The balls start from the central area of the exercise with the coach. Players who are working start in the centre, alongside the coach, with four players in the wide area, ready to cross from either side. This practice is directional, so the groups will work both ends. Two defenders will defend each area from the attackers. 

I love this session and I’ve chosen it because it works all aspects of the game – plus it’s hard work for the players. It’s unique as the attackers get lots of finishing with different movements, the wide players get to work on their variations and tracking the back post from the other side when attacking, and the defenders get to work on body position, heading, footwork, dealing with overloads, and pride in keeping clean sheets.

You could run this session twice a week if there is no game during the week as it’s a good physical and technical exercise, working on all aspects of what will happen during a game. If there is a game on Tuesday, you could work Thursday as a tactical drill. You could also use this session as a top-up for the players who need extra work but that would be dependent on numbers available and players’ positions.

ACTIVITY 1

We set up on half a pitch with two full size goals, and a penalty area and six-yard box marked out with flat discs in the centre circle. Eight mannequins are placed in two lines across the middle of our practice area, with our outfield players placed on each of them, plus one goalkeeper in each goal, and one defender in each penalty area. 

The practice will start with two attackers from the centre of the area [1]. 

[1]

1. First player plays ball to second player

2. Second player turns and plays ball out wide to the left side where crosser will vary delivery into box
3. Crosser turns and strides back to the mannequin
4. Attackers change runs to get on cross, then turn and stride back to middle area  

One player will play a ball to the second player, who turns and plays the ball out wide to the left side where the crosser will vary their delivery into box. Once the crosser has delivered, they will turn and stride back to the mannequin. The attackers will change runs to then get on the end of the cross. When they have attacked the cross, they will then turn and stride back to the middle area where they will get another ball and do the same routine at the other end of the pitch.  

Meanwhile, the defenders are passive to start, a coach will work them with footwork to the edge of box, then moving backwards for four defensive headers. When the first two attackers have finished both ends, the next two will get ready working the right-side crossers. This could last 6-8 mins a block.  

ACTIVITY 2

The practice will start the same as the first, with attackers but this time the defender becomes active, defending the crosses coming into the box against the attackers [2a].

[2a]

1. First player plays ball to second player

2. Second player turns and plays ball out wide to the left side where crosser will vary delivery into box
3. Defender active, defending crosses in box 
4. Crosser turns and strides back to the mannequin

Once the cross has been delivered the crosser again strides back to the mannequin and the attackers return to the edge of the box, where the coach now plays a second ball into either attacker. They now must attack the defender in a 2v1 scenario within the six-yard width area [2b]. 

“We want attackers to be direct and quick, with defenders now working their feet and distances of where they want to defend”

[2b]

1. Attackers change runs to get on cross, then turn and stride back to edge of box

2. Attackers move in on defender in 2v1 scenario

We want the attackers to be direct and at pace with the defender now working their feet and distances of where they want to defend the attack.

When the attack has finished the attackers stride back to the middle area and repeat the same drills the opposite end. The defender will recover to the edge of box and repeat the same heading/footwork drill.

ACTIVITY 3

The additions to this practice are now that when a cross is coming in from one side, the opposite wide player must make the back post area [3]. 

[3]

1. First player plays ball to second player

2. Second player turns and plays ball out wide to the left side where crosser will vary delivery into box
3. Wide player on right side moves to back post
4. Defender active, defending crosses in box 
5. Routine starts again from other side, with back post player taking a ball from coach

Once the cross has been delivered and attacked, both wide players stride back to their mannequins but the side that was making the back post is quickly ready again to take another ball from the coach after the 2v1 scenario. The defender will recover to edge of the box, then quickly drop off to defend the ball being crossed. Again, once they have dealt with the cross, they will work back to edge of the box and deal with four more headers with the coach.  

The session should be like match tempo and if done properly the players will feel the intensity is tough. You can break the session up into periods with different drills each block.

 You can keep rotating the defenders, so they all get an opportunity of working their feet, body position, dealing with 2 v 1 overloads, clearances and habits of keeping clean sheets. 

COACHING POINTS

What are the key things to look out for technically and tactically?

For the attackers in the middle, we will look for the quality of the pass out to either full backs or wingers in wide areas, movements to lose defenders in the box, composure and ruthlessness with finishing and then direct in 2v1 scenarios.

With the full backs or wingers in the wide areas we will look at the quality of their delivery, different crossing variations and the timing of runs to back post when the opposite winger or full back is crossing.

For the defenders, we will look at body position when dealing with crosses, timing of headers or clearances, footwork and defensive angles in 2v1 situations.

What are the typical mistakes that players might make, and how do you avoid them?

Your typical mistakes made are normally from a lack of concentration, attacking movements not done with tempo, quality of delivery from the wide areas and defenders mistiming ball flight with crosses or determination to keep the ball out of the goal.