Low Cross and Finish: Wing Dribble and Cut-Back
A winger dribbles down the wing and plays a low cross or cut-back to two teammates arriving in the box. A first crossing exercise for young players.
- Age
- U9–U14
- Players
- 6–12
- Duration
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Intensity
- Medium
- Area
- 30 × 25 m
- Type
- Technical
- Approach
- Intermediate
- Format
- Waves
- Objectives
- Technical: Crossing, Finishing
- Tactical: Combination play
- Concepts worked on
- Technical:CrossingRunning with the ballShooting
- Tactical:Attacking the box
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Goalkeeper
- Pass
- Run without ball
- Dribble
- Shot
- Ball
- Cone
- Goal
Young players cannot yet lift a ball accurately into the box, but they can run with it down the wing and pass it low across the goal. This exercise teaches the basic pattern: the winger attacks the space by the touchline, the two finishers time their runs to the near post and the penalty spot, and the cross arrives low and firm. Repetition is high and every action ends with a shot.
Objective
Run with the ball down the wing, play a low cross or cut-back, and arrive in the box on time to finish.
Organisation
- 30 × 25 m area in front of a goal with a goalkeeper. A 7 m wide wing on one side, with a cone line 8 m from the goal line.
- Wingers queue at the bottom of the wing with a ball each. Finishers queue in the middle, about 20 m from goal.
- Change the wing every 5 minutes so players cross with both feet.
How it works
- The winger dribbles down the wing and crosses once past the cone line, low and along the ground.
- Two finishers leave as the winger starts: one attacks the near post, the other the penalty spot.
- After the shot, the winger joins the finishers' queue and a finisher joins the wingers' queue.
- Count goals per round of 3 minutes. 4 rounds.
Coaching points
- Winger: run with long touches, head up, and look at the box before crossing.
- Cross low and firm across the goal, between the goalkeeper and the finishers.
- If the finishers are late, cut the ball back to the edge of the area.
- Finishers: do not arrive too early. Start the run when the winger reaches the cone line.
- Finish first time with the inside of the foot: placement beats power.
Progressions
- Add a passive defender in the box.
- The winger must cross with their first touch after the cone line.
- Add a defender on the wing who chases the winger from behind.
Regressions
- The winger stops the ball and passes, without crossing on the run.
- No goalkeeper for the youngest groups.
- Only one finisher, who waits at the penalty spot.
Variations
- Set up both wings and alternate them: left wing, right wing.
Key principles
- Low, firm cross.
- Near post and penalty spot occupied.
- Arrive in the box at the right moment.
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