From the July 3, 2007, issue of The Technical Area
This installment of the Coaching Corner comes from the new book Soccer Skills and Drills, published by Human Kinetics. It comes from Chapter 8: Applying Techniques Tactically. For information on how to order a copy of Soccer Skills and Drills, CLICK HERE.
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Purpose: To practice quality crosses into all attacking spaces in the box.
Procedure: This drill animation shows the same organization as the previous drill, but now the space at the top of the box is added so that the crosser has four possible crosses to execute: near post, back post, second six or top of the box. Attacker 3 is usually a midfield player who will leave the space alive by staying deep until he or she sees the ball being pulled back. Like the other runners, the midfield player wants to arrive in the space at the instant the ball arrives.
Variation: Once the players are familiar enough with the types for services, spaces and timing of runs, the coach will add Defenders 1 and 2. The coach initially asks defenders to find a player early and mark that player. With three runners, one will be free, and the crosser tries to hit that space. The crosser has no concern with trying to time the runner. The crosser's role is to hit the correct type of cross to the appropriate space. The runner must time a run to arrive in the space at the same instant the ball arrives.
Coaching Points: To beat a defender, the attacker should drive to run behind his or her defender, and when the defender opens his or her shoulder to turn, the attacker will cut across the defender's face before the defender can turn back to chase the attacker. The defender opening his or her shoulder is the signal for the attacker to sprint to the ball. the coach must be very flexible to ensure that players are experiencing some success. This might mean using only one defender or adding a fourth runner who will time a run to arrive in the midgoal area of the second six.
For drill animation, CLICK HERE.
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