Finishing from Crosses | Reading the Play and Hitting the Target in the Box

Overview

• You want your players to consistently bury the chances that come off a cross
• They need quick decisions and clean finishing in front of goal
• You want them to stay composed and put it away even with a defender all over them

Objectives

• Handle crosses accurately and adapt to whatever comes in
• Sharpen shooting accuracy in and around the box
• Understand when to time an attacking run
• Read the defender’s position and decide faster

Setup

This one is all about tightening up your players’ finishing in front of goal. Split them into crossers and finishers and rep realistic shooting situations over and over.

1) Mark out roughly a third of the field. Put two forwards near goal, two crossers out wide, and a player to hold up the ball

2) The wide player dribbles, takes a defender on, then whips in a cross. The two forwards either turn with a defender on their back or peel off to get on the end of it and shoot

3) Each player gets 3–4 shots, then rotate roles and go again

4) The more they rep it, the more their timing on the cross, their positioning, and their finishing all climb step by step