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LOGINAttack the near post
Forwards are often being told to “get across the first defender” when a cross comes into the box. If a striker can do this, he stands a good chance of meeting the ball first and, if his connection is good, goals will be scored.
What this session is about
Scoring from crosses and pull-back passes.
What to think about
Attackers must…- Not get ahead of their team mate with the ball because they are likely to be in an offside position.
- Head towards the far post before attacking the near post.
- Anticipate the cross when their team mate either lifts his head, is near the goal line or lifts his leg back to cross the ball.
- Time their runs well.
- Accelerate to lose their marker.
- Get across the keeper’s eye line to distract him.
Set-up
| Warm up | Session | Development | Game Situation | Warm Down |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 minutes | 10 minutes | 15 minutes | 15 minutes | 10 minutes |
What you get your players to do
Use a penalty area and split your squad into two groups. Servers stand on the goal line between the six-yard box and the 18-yard box. Other outfield players line up in a central area on the edge of the penalty box.The first of those players makes their run towards the post nearest the servers, receives a pass and shoots first time.
That player joins the back of the servers’ line, while the server joins the back of the line of players at the edge of the penalty box. The next two players in line repeat the drill.
After a set time, repeat the drill from the other side of the penalty area.
A server (S) passes a ball to an attacker (A), who has made a run towards the near post to try and score past the keeper.
Development
Use a penalty area and split your squad into three groups. The wide players (W) stand to one side of the penalty area. Two sets of strikers (A and B) are positioned on the edge of the penalty area, one set either side of the “D”.The first wide player dribbles the ball up the field towards the goal line. An attacker from group A moves to the near post. At the same time, an attacker from group B runs towards the far post. Ideally, attackers must run one way and check back towards their designated area.
The wide player crosses for either striker to try and score. The wide player joins line B, attacker B joins line A, and attacker A joins line W. Repeat the drill until everyone has had a turn in each position, then repeat the drill from the other side of the penalty area.
To progress, add a defender who starts in the sixyard box.
Related Files
core-214-attack-the-near-post.pdfPDF, 265 KB
A winger (W) crosses the ball to meet one of two attackers, who have made angled runs towards either post.
Game situation
Play a small-sided game and condition it so goals can only be scored following a pull-back pass or cross from the wing.To progress, play a game without those restrictions, but goals scored at the near post, following a cross or pull-back pass count treble.
The team that scores most goals wins.
In a small-sided game, goals scored at the near post after pull-back passes or crosses, count treble.
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