For many forwards crosses and balls into the box are their lifeblood and from where the majority of goals come from. It is so important that your forwards have a real understanding of how and when to make their runs to attack crosses in the penalty area. Arguably the most important run a forward can make for crosses is the near post run. It is very often an unselfish run, which is not always popular with goalscoring forwards, but it so important that the forwards make this run for several reasons:

• It is an easier skill to cross to the near post area. Ideally if it is between the defenders and the goalkeeper. But it is a wasted cross if an attacker doesn't make a near post run.
• The near post run is the trigger for other players to make runs into the box. It creates the space.
• A near post run forces defenders to react to the run and pulls them out of their set defending position.
• It effects and upsets the goalkeeper. It also creates a problem across the goalkeepers eye line and forces them to watch the cross and the forward, rather than have an open position where they can see and be in control of everything in front of them.
• A well timed, sharp near post run can cause chaos for the defenders and goalkeeper, which might not result in a goal directly, but can result in deflections, missed clearances, deflections and general chaos in key areas.
• It allows other players to make far post runs. As the ball has further to travel to a far post position, other players can make late runs and still get in position to attack the ball.
• It makes the goal bigger when the ball is delivered to the far post position. If the near post runner spins and reacts after the ball has cleared them at the near post. The far post forward can head directly for goal or back across the goal towards their near post partner. Therefore the near post runner should be encouraged to react after the ball has cleared them "to make the goal bigger" for far post crosses.

Using coaches chalkboard we have designed a series of progressive drills to improve Forwards near post runs, Forwards far post runs and Forwards combining for near and far post runs.

In addition, the following animated drills are also very good examples of drills to encourage forwards movement for crosses in the box.

• Drill to develop near and far post forward runs
• Attacking behind the first defender
• Near and far post runs against defenders

The following drill is a good example of how to develop a forwards ability and understanding of how to make an effective near post run.

NAME

How and when to make a near post run for a cross.

PURPOSE

To improve a forwards ability to make clever, well timed and positive runs to the near post for crosses.

STRUCTURE

Ball is played into forward who lays it back to a supporting full back. Full back plays it to a wide player, who has checked to receive the ball. Wide player dribbles the ball outside of a cone and delivers a near post cross. After laying the ball back to full back, forward makes an out to in run in the penalty area to attack the near post cross.

ORGANISATION

• Area half a pitch
• Cones
• Full size goal
• Supply of balls

KEY FACTORS

• Accurate passing, good lay off from forward
• Wide player check to receive the ball
• Wide player get head up to assess forwards movement
• Forwards movement - initially way from the ball to far post. Use cones
• Forwards near post run - quick, well timed and on a good angle.
• Meet the cross at or inside the near post area
• Good finishing technique. Use the pace of the cross to deflect the ball towards the goal, either with side foot, volley or head