Drill: Crossing drill to miss the first defender

Purpose

Exercise to improve crossing to miss the first defender

	Drill area

Set Up

Area half a pitch
Forwards with balls on cones 40 meters from goal and 30 meters from touch line - both sides of pitch
Fullbacks on cones 40 meters from goal and 10 meters from touch line - both sides of pitch
Wide players on cones 25 meters from goals 10 meters from touch lines - both sides of pitch
Defender located in 6 - yard box, between near post and front of 6 - yard box.
Supply of balls
Bibs
Cones

Structure

Forward passes the ball wide to the fullback. full back controls out of feet and passes to wide players who has checked to receive the ball. Wide player beats the cone and dribbles down the touch line. Forward makes a timed, angled run to attack the cross. Wide player must miss the near post defender and goalkeeper with cross. Forward attack and finish. After forward has had attempt, they become the passive defender for the next cross. Repeat on other side of pitch

Coaching Tips

Movement to receive a pass
Control the ball out of feet and to the side
Look up to assess forwards movement and where the near post defender is
Use correct crossing technique - use lofted passing technique to loft the ball
Miss the near post defender and away from goalkeeper
Forward make a run to attack ball at far post area

Progressions

The coach may initially start the near post defender on the 6 yard box line and condition the goalkeeper to stay on their line.
Progress to moving the near post defender further back and allow the goalkeeper to come off their line to catch poor crosses.

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