Crosses and high shots

1 The coach, or a player, feeds a high cross into the goalkeeper, who 2 should move off their goal line to claim the ball. Encourage them to catch the ball at its highest point. The keeper then 3 rolls or throws the ball out to the opposite side of the penalty area, to a waiting player 4, who takes a touch to control it while another player lurks on the edge of the box, waiting for a pass.

Coaches can also use this session to develop movement of the striker, by setting out cones or mannequins for them to time their movement from, before receiving the ball from the wide player.

5 On taking a touch, the player on the flank plays a pass out to the striker on the edge of the box, which is the cue for the goalkeeper 6 to recover from distributing the ball and set themselves, preparing for a shot which ideally should be first time, and the keeper then reacts, using quick footwork to get into a position 8 to try to save the shot.

Coaches can also use this session to work on a goalkeeper’s distribution, by placing cones or gates in desired areas of the pitch. Instead of the goalkeeper rolling or throwing the ball directly to the wide player, the can try to hit the targets, while the wide player has a supply of balls with which to feed the striker.