Tag Archives for " Crossing "

0 Not Just a Crossing and Shot-stopping Drill

By Wayne Henderson - Sometimes as a coach you may not get everything in your session exactly as you would like it, for example you may be working in a smaller area on the training pitch, or you may not have as many goalkeepers as you thought you might have, or, a popular situation that

0 Crossing and Finishing Pattern of Play – Speed Production and Reaction

By Anthony Hazelwood The following activity activates the attacking players to develop a flank combination with the objective in creating a crossing and finishing opportunity. This activity is a linear and non-linear type of exercise with the soccer specific fitness target being the player and group athletic development. The metabolic training adaptations are meant for

0 Switching Field of Play and Crossing Part One

By Gregg Gillies - Set Up: Size (dependent on strength and skill of your players) at least 8-10 players plus GK (in the progression). 6 player set up, as seen in diagram 1 below. Have at least 8, with an extra player behind Player #1 and Player #4. If you have more than 8, you can

0 Creating Crossing Opportunities to Finish on Goal – Aerobic Capacity

By Anthony Hazelwood The following activity coaches a team to create crossing opportunities to finish on goal. The specific fitness target is match endurance while adapting the player’s aerobic capacity in an extended small-sided format. When preparing the activity, if needed, concentration and difficulty levels may be increased by having players execute something extra unique

0 Crashing the Goal

By Mike Smith If there is one point where the beautiful game can get ugly, it is in front of the goal when a team is “crashing” in to score. This is a moment where sheer numbers, size, strength and determination win the day. Often times in the waning seconds of a game, a team will

0 Two for One

By Mike Smith I am just as guilty as anyone for demanding my team follow a script. In my opinion if a team can load the middle, get the ball wide, get it forward and then across the goal, they will be successful. I use this approach as a foundation, but the fact is it is

0 Get Even Sharper

By Mike Smith Lesson 1 Make the Pass Make the Run Set-Up This warm up puts into play some simple attacking elements, but requires advanced timing.  Set one cone in a 30 yd diagonal to the starting cone and then drop another cone about 15 yds below the diagonal cone, as shown. The starting player serves

0 Sharpen Up

By Mike Smith Having been around this game along time I can comfortably say in almost every soccer match, at every level, there are goals left on the field by not challenging the near post and simply letting the keeper catch the ball and by not crashing the back post for a clean up. This lesson

0 Multiple Finishing with Starting Speed

By Alex Trukan The following practice helps players to improve their starting speed. The difference between winning and losing is often decided by marginal gains. One of the key fitness components that might significantly influence outcomes in a football game is speed. Due to the nature of the game, speed in football is most often

0 Dribbing Activities

By Chris Kouns USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Women’s Soccer Coach – Georgia Gwinnett College This session is focused on improving the player's ability to control and move the ball quickly and set-up an opportunity to shoot or pass. Set-Up Beginning at midfield

0 Combined Crossing and Finishing

By Alex Trukan This practice combines technical elements of finishing and crossing. This is achieved in a 1v1 scenario which replicates demands of the game. The main physical focus is to develop explosive power which is responsible for winning running duels and leads to effective delivery of the end product. For example, a player with

0 Attacking the Full Back 1 v 1

By Sean Pearson Area Size: 40 x 36 yards (Full Back Zones: 10 x 8) 4 Mannequins Teams: 5 v 5 Time: 15 Minutes Objectives To understand when and where to create a goal scoring opportunity To work on technique of passing the ball into the corner or knowing when and how to round the goalkeeper Execution

0 Playing into Target Players

By Sean Reed -  Objective This session is a directional possession looking to play forward into target players and support the play with forward runs. Session 1   Diagram 1 Set Up Two teams with 2x players from each team in the two end zones in the direction in which their team is attacking The size

0 Directional Throw Catch

By Sean Reed -  Objective This session is a directional throw catch game. Similar to throw catch possession, but is working towards a goal and within a shape. Session 1 Diagram 1 Set Up A session which can be used with a different number of players Two teams split with 2x GK Pitch size is dependent

0 Crossing and Heading Game

By Sean Pearson Area Size: 40 x 34 yards (Heading Zone: 28 x 5) Teams: 5 v 5 + 2 Time: 15 Minutes Objectives To understand how to head the ball when aiming to score To understand where to head the ball 4 v 4 with GKs. 2 neutrals, 1 in each channel. The aim of

0 Crossing and Finishing Pattern

By Sean Reed -  Objective These sessions are working on crossing and finishing. Which include looking at players playing a diagonal pass into a wide player, for them combine to set for a cross into an area for players to attack. Session 1 Diagram 1 Set Up Using 16 players + 2 GKS Pitch is approx

0 Crossing and Finishing Game

By Alex Trukan This practice is designed to improve players’ ability to recover between high intensity actions in a most efficient way. This will allow players to sustain the quality (speed and strength) of their actions for longer throughout the game. These physical outcomes are achieved in a highly technically demanding game containing a lot

0 Transition and Switching

By Sean Pearson Area Size: 24 x 26yrds Teams: 2 (6 v 6 + 1) Time: 20 Minutes Objectives To keep switching the field and move the ball away from pressure To transition from high press defense to offense Create angles of support and quick decision making This is a simple possession practice with multi

0 Defending: Stopping the Cross

By Sean Pearson Objectives To pressure the crosser Force the crosser back up the field Defensive positioning The main priority of this practice is to pressure the wide player quickly enough to stop the cross. If the ball cannot travel towards the goal the opposition will not score, simple. You want to force the ball

2 Possession in a 4-2-3-1 Midfield

By Sean Pearson Area:40x30 Yards Players: 12 Teams: 2 + Neutrals Length: 20 mins This exercise focuses on the movement of your central midfield 3 and realizing when to go through the middle or when to use the wide midfielders to move the ball forward. Objectives To play through the midfield To realize the best

0 Counter Attacking

By Sean Pearson Area:40x30 Yards Players: 12 Teams: 4 Length: 20 mins This exercise is fast paced and high energy. It needs 4 teams for constant attacking and to give players short rest periods. Throughout the exercise players/teams must be positive and attack together. Objectives To attack with speed and penetration Manipulate the positioning of the

0 Forward Runs from the Midfield in the 4-2-3-1

By Sean Pearson Area: 50x35yards Players: 12 Teams: 2 Length: 20-25mins This small sided game is very specific in showing your team the forward runs you want them to make and when, whilst in positions they would be during a game if you play in the 4-2-3-1 formation. It also pits two of the same

0 Finishing from Long & Short Range

By Sean Pearson Area: 45x35yards Players: 12 Teams: 2 Length: 20-25mins A lot of players I have coached tend to be hesitant of when to strike the ball at goal as well as be almost shy to shoot in case they miss. So instead of shoot they ‘pass the buck’ and let the next player

0 Attacking Through the Wide Areas

Attacking Through the Wide Areas

By Sean Pearson

Small Sided Game: Attacking Through the Wide Areas

Area: 45x40yards
Players: 16
Teams: 2
Length: 20-25mins

This game has 3 areas. 2 wide areas (5x45) and a middle area (45x30). Each area is split into 2 halves. It is 3v2 in both middle sections and each wide area has a single unopposed player. When the ball is not in the player’s half of the field they must all come towards the middle of the field to simulate a ‘high line’. Make sure to inforce offside if a player is beyond the last defender when the ball is passed.

Objectives

• To get the ball to the wide players
• For the wide player to understand how, where and why to cross the ball
• Where and when to make a forward run

When the team with 3 players in the middle area has the