Match: Goals Only from Crosses
Match with goalkeepers where a goal only counts if it comes from a cross played from one of the two wide crossing zones. Headers and volleys count double.
- Age
- U13–Senior
- Players
- 12–16
- Duration
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Intensity
- High
- Area
- 50 × 40 m
- Type
- Integrated
- Approach
- Global
- Format
- Match
- Objectives
- Technical: Crossing, Finishing
- Tactical: Switching play
- Concepts worked on
- Technical:CrossingHeadingVolleying
- Tactical:WidthAttacking the box
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Defender
- Goalkeeper
- Pass
- Run without ball
- Ball
- Cone
- Goal
When the only way to score is from a cross, the whole team has to organise the attack around it: move the ball wide, get a player free in a crossing zone and fill the box with well-timed runs. Defenders get a lot of practice defending crosses, and goalkeepers must decide when to come for the ball.
Objective
Create crossing situations and attack the box with the right runs; defend crosses as a unit.
Organisation
- 50 × 40 m pitch with a goal and goalkeeper at each end.
- A 7 m crossing zone along each touchline.
- Two teams of five to seven plus goalkeepers.
How it works
- Normal match; anyone may enter the crossing zones.
- A goal only counts if the last pass was a cross from a crossing zone.
- A goal scored with a header or a first-time volley counts double.
- Goals scored in any other way do not count; the goalkeeper restarts.
- 4 × 5 minutes.
Coaching points
- Switch the play quickly to find a free player in the crossing zone.
- Crosser: look up before crossing; driven to the near post, floated to the far post.
- Runners: start late and attack the ball, one near post, one far post, one arriving at the penalty spot.
- Defenders: stay goal-side of the runners and clear high and wide.
Progressions
- Maximum two touches in the crossing zones.
- One defender may enter the crossing zone to block the cross.
Regressions
- Crosser may not be tackled in the crossing zone.
- Wider crossing zones (10 m).
Variations
- Goals from pull-backs (low crosses from the byline) count triple.
Key principles
- Go wide to cross.
- Fill the box.
- Attack the ball.
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