Annual training plan · U14–U23

Week 10: 1 vs 1 on the Wing & Crossing

3 complete training sessions with 12 drills – created by licensed coaches. Open every drill in the easy2coach web app with one click.

This week’s focus

After a lot of work on combination play on the wing last week, the focus this week will be on the attacking 1 vs 1 and follow-up actions on the flanks.

The attacking 1 vs 1 on the wing was already touched on in pre-season but will be deepened further in one session. Depending on whether the opponent was beaten on the outside or towards the centre, there are different ways of continuing the attack.

With crosses, it is important that players learn to play the ball on the run. So get your players into the habit of dribbling forward first for both crosses and lofted balls.

Ideally, players should also be able to lift their head once more before playing the ball into the penalty area.

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

Not only as a defender, but also as an attacker, you should keep an eye on the opponent's behaviour.

From the point of view of a winger who goes into a 1 vs 1 with a full-back, the following approaches are possible:

  • Defender steps out aggressively: dribble past the defender on the outside
  • Defender does not tuck inside far enough when dribbled at straight on: dribble past the defender on the inside
  • Defender marks very tightly before a possible pass: break away in behind after a running feint (come short, then go)
Coaching points for this session
  • Dribble straight at the opponent
  • Run past the opponent with a feint and a change of pace
  • Start the feint in good time
  • Watch the defender's behaviour
Drill 1

Grid Dribbling with Various Tasks

15 min20 x 20 metres

The players dribble in their square freely or only with the right or only with the left. On visual and acoustic signals they carry out additional tasks:

  • Clapping hands: crouch over the ball
  • Raising the right arm: swing the ball between the legs
  • Raising the left arm: control the ball with the sole
  • Two whistles: change square clockwise
  • Three whistles: change square anticlockwise
  • One whistle: change square diagonally
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: One large square with four smaller squares at its corners.

Equipment: Cones and tall cones as well as one ball per player.

Players: The players are divided evenly among the four smaller squares.

Coaching points
  • Pay attention to close ball control.
  • Look up from the ball.
  • Constantly build in changes of pace and direction.
Drill 2

Attacking Actions: Play on the Wing

20 minAs shown in the graphic
  • The winger receives a pass from a central player and goes into a 1 vs 1 against the full-back.
  • The aim is to cross the back line of the wide zone and then to shoot directly at goal or to lay the ball back before the goal line to the player pushing up.
  • That player finishes on the mini goal.

Variations: The drill can be played with and without the defender following up behind the wide zone.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark a narrow wide zone along the touchline that reaches as far as the penalty area line. One mini goal stands in the corner on the goal line, a second one in the penalty area.

Equipment: 2 mini goals, 4 cones and several balls.

Players: One winger, one full-back, one central player and one player pushing up; attackers and defenders wear different colours of bibs.

Coaching points

Coaching Points

  • The drill can be played with and without the defender following up behind the wide zone
Drill 3

2 vs 2 on the Wing

25 min15 x 25 metres
  • In the marked area 2 vs 2 is played until a goal is scored.
  • The aim is to dribble through one of the two cone goals.
  • If the 2 vs 2 lasts longer than one to two minutes, or if a team has dribbled through a cone goal, the next two teams take their turn.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Red cones mark the playing area, yellow ones the dribbling gates.

Equipment: Cones in two colours and several balls.

Players: Several teams of two.

Drill 4

Small-Sided Game: Down the Flanks

25 minDouble penalty area across the full width
  • Two teams play against each other.
  • In the central zone the players have only two touches.
  • In the two outer zones there is no restriction on touches.

Variations: Every team has two fixed wide players who stay permanently in the outer zone. After receiving a pass they can go into the 1 vs 1 or look for the one-two with a player from the centre.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the pitch as well as the central zone the width of the penalty area and the two outer zones up to the touchline; at the ends there are two goals.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams; in addition goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Shift across in relation to the ball.
  • Make the game wide.
The complete session as a ready-made training plan – with animated drills in the web app. Go to the web app

Session 2

4 drills

If the players have already internalised how to bring the wingers into play correctly, the 1 vs 1 and combination play on the wing, it is now possible to move on to the last training focus of play down the flanks – the follow-up actions on the wing.

The focus will be particularly on deliveries from the flank. The basic requirement for being able to convert a cross successfully is not only the quality of the cross, but above all the runs into the penalty area.

It is important here that all the dangerous areas in front of goal are attacked with runs – the near post, the far post and the cut-back area.

Coaching points for this session
  • Deliver crosses on the move
  • Attack the dangerous spaces in front of goal
Drill 1

Handball Heading Game

15 min
  • Both teams pass the ball to each other by hand.
  • With the ball in the hands, a maximum of three steps may be taken; the ball is passed on by then at the latest, without stopping.
  • Goals may only be scored with the head after a pass from a team-mate; setting the ball up for oneself is not allowed.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area; a goal stands at one side.

Equipment: 1 goal, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams.

Coaching points
  • Demand active getting free from the players.
Drill 2

Small-Sided Game: Positional Attack on the Wing

20 min
  • The number 5 dribbles forward diagonally and passes to the number 9, who comes towards the ball.
  • The number 9 lays the ball off to the number 6, who plays a pass into the gap for the number 11 setting off.
  • The number 11 dribbles at high speed towards the goal line and crosses to the number 9 and the number 10, who attack the near post and the far post as well as the penalty spot.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the positions, two poles form a passing gate; in addition one goal.

Equipment: Cones, 2 poles, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: The players in positions 5, 6, 9, 10 and 11 as well as a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Demand a high dribbling speed from the number 11.
  • The drill is not static: all positions are on the move — preparatory movement and timing when setting off into the spaces.
  • Demand a hard, accurate pass into the middle.
  • The finish is taken with the inside of the foot or with the head.
Drill 3

2 vs 2 with Crossers

20 minDouble penalty area
  • The game is played 2 vs 2 in the central zone.
  • The crossers are available to whichever team is attacking.
  • If a team wins the ball in its own half, the ball goes immediately to one of the two crossers, who crosses into the centre or lays the ball back into the space at the edge of the box.
  • If a team wins the ball in the opponents' half, it must finish as quickly as possible in the 2 vs 2.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the playing area with a central zone and both of its halves; there are two goals at the ends.

Equipment: Cones, 2 goals and several balls.

Players: Two teams of two in the central zone as well as two crossers in each half of the playing area; in addition goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Act with one or two touches in the wide positions.
  • Look up from the ball shortly before the delivery.
Drill 4

Wing Play with Wide Zones

25 min
  • The game is played 7 vs 7.
  • If a goal is scored after a pass down the wing, it counts double.
  • The deliveries may be played high or low.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the playing area and the wide zones; there are two goals at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of seven and goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Demand that the wingers are played into consistently.
  • Use the full width of the playing area.
  • Demand combination play on the wing.

Session 3

4 drills

After a warm-up with both technical and coordination content, the session continues with a passing drill on wing play that ends with a delivery.

Here the players learn both the interplay between full-back and winger and aspects of running into the penalty area.

In this drill, one of the two holding midfielders also runs into the cut-back area. The two strikers attack the near and far posts. This means all the dangerous areas for the delivery are occupied.

After a small-sided game on wing play, the training session is rounded off with a crossing competition.

Drill 1

Circuit Session

15 min15 x 15 metres or larger
  • The feeders A, B and C move loosely back and forth along the outside lines.
  • The station runner shows for the ball to any feeder and passes the ball straight back.
  • The station runner then moves through the forest of poles and shows for the ball to another feeder; there the sequence is exactly the same.
  • After the time is up the station runner swaps with a feeder.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the square, in the centre there is a forest of poles.

Equipment: Cones, poles and several balls.

Players: Three feeders A, B and C on the outside lines as well as one station runner.

Coaching points
  • The quality of the passes must be very high so that the drill can run at the right tempo.
Drill 2

Small-Sided Game: Interchanging on the Wing

20 minHalf a pitch
  • The right holding midfielder opens up play to the right centre-back.
  • Just before the ball reaches the right centre-back, the right midfielder starts at high speed towards the centre, and the right-back sprints along the line into the space that has been freed up.
  • The centre-back plays a lofted ball into the path of the full-back.
  • The full-back takes the ball on towards the goal line and crosses into the centre.
  • Meanwhile the strikers cross over, and the left holding midfielder makes a central run towards the penalty spot.
  • The right holding midfielder shifts into the centre and provides cover against second balls or counter-attacks.
  • The left holding midfielder then starts the drill down the left side.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the positions; plus one goal.

Equipment: Cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: Two holding midfielders, two centre-backs, a right midfielder, a right-back, the strikers and a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Pay attention to the timing.
  • Demand accurate lofted balls.
  • Pay attention to a clean first touch and to taking the ball in stride.
  • Lift the head just before the cross.
  • The strikers and the holding midfielder should not break into the penalty area too early.
Drill 3

Wing Play II

25 minHalf a pitch
  • The game is 6 vs 6 with two floaters who play with the team in possession.
  • After six consecutive passes the ball must be played into the wide zone.
  • Only one attacker may move into the wide zone; there is no defending in there.
  • The attacker dribbles to the goal line and crosses the ball into the centre.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area and the wide zones; there is a goal at each end.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of six, two floaters and goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Use the numerical advantage to combine quickly — one player is always free.
  • The defenders defend the space, but also make sure that the centre is covered.
Drill 4

Crossing Competition | Crossing Training

20 min
  • One pair of players from a team starts from the centre and receives a cross that is to be converted.
  • The two players then receive a cross from the other side, which must be finished on the other goal.

Variations:

  • Headed goals count double.
  • Play without a defender; to increase the intensity a defender can intervene.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area and the outer zones; two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams with pairs of players in the centre as well as one crosser each in the wing zone; goalkeepers stand in the goals. An opponent can additionally be positioned in the wing zone.

Coaching points
  • Do not make the run in too early.
  • Move away from the ball.
  • Make the run in diagonally towards the crosser and the goal.
  • The players attack the near post and the far post.
  • The crosses are always played on the move.
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