Practice 1: Crossing to create scoring opportunities

WHY USE IT

Gives players a chance to get the ball into wide areas, and create scoring opportunities by crossing the ball into dangerous areas.

SET UP

Use a rectangular area, with a channel down each side. Set up a goal at each end, with a goalkeeper, and split players into two groups. Split area in half. Each group has an attacker locked into the attacking half and a midfielder in the defensive half. The remaining players are split between the two channels.

HOW TO PLAY

A goalkeeper starts by playing into the midfielder. Two players from each team enter the area, one in each channel. The midfielder passes to one of these players, who then travels with the ball into the other half of the area.

Once in the attacking half, they cross for the attacker and the other player who entered the area (who can leave the channel) to try and score with a one-touch finish. To begin with, the midfielder, after playing the pass, moves out of the way of the other group of players as they try to score. As a progression, they can defend the cross.

Coaching points

Weight and area of pass into wide player. Choice of cross by the wide player and area in which they deliver it. Timing and area of run by attacking players to meet cross.