Annual training plan · U14–U23

Week 13: Getting Free – Wall Player & Crosses

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

Playing forward and the ball through the gap were trained extensively in 3 sessions last training week. This week continues with showing for the ball and getting free in the final third. The focus will be on 2 main topics:

  • The striker as a wall player with an opponent at his back
  • Movement into the box for crosses

Both are learning objectives that are very important for play in the final third, because both have a high “potential for mistakes”.

When strikers with an opponent at their back receive the ball, they often tend to want to pass it on first time. In principle, passing it on first time or laying it off is not a bad option. But in practice, there are also imprecise passes or situations in which there is no immediate passing option at first, or none is spotted. That is why it is important for a striker to learn to hold the ball up.

With crosses from wide, there are 3 typical “mistakes” that you often see:

  • Players make their run too early and are already standing still when the cross arrives.
  • Players do not attack all the dangerous areas, or only some of them.
  • Players do not run in diagonally towards the cross, but straight or even in the same direction as the cross.

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

The training begins with a continuous passing drill to improve taking the ball in stride and passing. The drill is very straightforward to carry out. All players take the ball in their stride with the first touch and pass it on with the second touch. This gives the drill room to work on simple but crucial fundamentals: choosing the right weight of pass, passing accuracy, passing to the correct foot, setting up the pass as well as possible with the first touch.

After that, 20 minutes are spent on coordination and dribbling before moving on to one of the training focuses of this week – the runs into the penalty area for crosses.

This starts with a passing drill that ends with a delivery to a striker and a far-side winger. The drill also starts with a pass to the striker, who acts as a wall player in order to prepare the switch to the wings. Place particular emphasis on the striker breaking away explosively but late and playing the lay-off with the “foot furthest from the opponent”.

The session ends with a crossing competition. This allows the players to internalise their coaching points on the runs into the penalty area further and to develop a feel for the timing of their runs.

Coaching points for this session
  • Drop away on the far side so as to be able to run in diagonally
  • Do not run in too early
  • When receiving the cross, do not get beyond the near post; if anything, be 1-2 metres further into the centre. Makes the finish considerably easier
Drill 1

Passing: Improving the Timing

20 min20 x 20 metres, divided into four areas of 5 x 5 metres each
  • The ball starts in one square and is played from there into the next square.
  • The receiver is outside the square and runs into the ball in order to take it on with one touch in the new direction of play.
  • The ball is then passed into the next area; the drill continues as a continuous passing sequence.
  • The players follow the pass they have played at speed.

Variations: With more than eight players, two balls can be in play at the same time. The tempo is then taken down a little and attention is paid to playing at the same time.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: 16 cones mark out four squares.

Equipment: 16 cones and several balls.

Coaching points
  • Both touches — taking the ball on and passing — are carried out with the outside foot.
  • Pay attention to the timing of the receivers: they should take the ball on in their stride and not come to a standstill in the area.
Drill 2

Fitness and Coordination with the Ball

20 min
  • The players play the ball past the hurdle and jump over it.
  • They then dribble through the forest of poles and take the ball to the hurdle opposite.
  • Once all players have dribbled through the forest of poles, the next round starts.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six hurdles — three of them stand opposite three others. In the space in between there is a forest of poles.

Equipment: 6 hurdles, poles and one ball per player.

Players: There is one player with a ball behind each hurdle.

Coaching points
  • Pay attention to using both feet and to close ball control.
  • Regularly look up from the ball.
Drill 3

Through Ball and Crosses

25 minHalf a pitch
  • Player A passes to Player B, who moves towards the ball.
  • Player B lays the ball off back to Player A, who plays a lofted ball to Player C, who is running towards the goal line.
  • Player C crosses the ball to Players B and D, who cross their running paths before the delivery.
  • The drill is then carried out down the other side.

Note: After each run-through the positions change — A to B, B to C, C to D and D to A with a ball.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two poles and cones mark the positions, two dummies represent opponents.

Equipment: 2 poles, 2 dummies, cones, several balls and 1 full-size goal.

Players: Players A to D plus a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Before the cross Player B drops away to the far side in order to run in diagonally.
  • Only run into the penalty area with the cross or shortly before it.
  • Player B plays the lay-off with the foot furthest from the opponent.
  • Shortly before the pass from Player A, Player B breaks away explosively from the dummy.
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.
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

Before a possible delivery, it is usually an advantage to move on the defender's blind side. This makes it difficult for the defender to watch both the ball and their opponent. Shortly before the delivery, there are then 2 possible solutions if the defender briefly loses sight of the player:

  • Drift away to the far post on the opponent's blind side.
  • Run past the defender with a change of pace and attack the near post.

Occasionally the winger is unable to cross because the defender manages to stay level with the ball. A common solution is then a cross feint followed by a chop back. During this time, the defenders in the box have usually been able to drop off far enough. As a result, a cross into the centre is easy to defend, because the defenders can defend the cross facing forwards. It therefore makes sense to play the cross behind the defenders to the far post. This space can be attacked superbly by a far-side winger, but also by a striker who peels away against the defenders' running direction.

Drill 1

Ball Circulation

25 min10 x 12 metres per square
  • In the areas the teams play 2 vs 2 against each other.
  • One neutral player acts as playmaker in the neutral zone, the remaining neutral players occupy the sides of the areas.
  • The coach passes a ball to one team in the area.
  • Together with the neutral players, the team in possession keeps the ball against two ball chasers.
  • The teams stay in their areas; play there is free. The neutral players play with a maximum of two touches.
  • If the playmaker receives a pass, the choice is between a return pass and a switch of play into the other area.

Note: After five to six minutes change tasks and positions, so that every player has been neutral at least once.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Eight cones mark out two squares with a two-metre-wide neutral zone in between.

Equipment: 8 cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of four players each plus seven neutral players.

Coaching points
  • The playmaker shows for the ball in an open body position in order to have both areas in view and to be able to switch play quickly.
  • The neutral players are constantly fully active along their entire side.
  • Play plenty of forward passes.
  • Quick play through scanning, taking the ball in their stride and one-touch play.
  • Do not stop passes dead.
  • Demand passes and create passing options.
Drill 2

Small-Sided Game: Crosses into the Space Behind the Defence

20 min
  • Player A passes to Player B.
  • Player B lays the ball off back to Player A.
  • Player A plays a pass to Player C.
  • Player C crosses into the space behind the defence.
  • Players A and B run in behind and finish.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four dummies represent the defence, cones mark the positions; plus one goal.

Equipment: 4 dummies, cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: Players A, B and C plus a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • After the lay-off Player B drops away to the far side.
  • Play the lay-off with the foot furthest from the opponent.
  • Run in behind at speed.
  • Watch out for offside.
Drill 3

4 vs 4 + 4 Support Players

25 minDouble penalty area
  • In a double penalty area, two teams play a free game of 4 vs 4 on two goals with goalkeepers.
  • In their respective attacking half the teams have four support players.
  • The support players are positioned on the touchlines and on the goal line of the playing area and must play first time.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two goals, six cones to mark out the playing area and the outer zones as well as two cones near the halfway line, which mark the halves.

Equipment: 2 goals, 8 cones and at least 1 ball.

Players: Two teams of four players each, one goalkeeper each as well as four support players per attacking half.

Note: If eight outside players are assigned and split between the two teams, this can lead to long periods of standing around. Six outside players are better, with the ones on the sides playing for both teams. The roles are changed regularly.

Coaching points
  • Do not block the passing lanes to the support players.
  • Use the numerical advantage cleverly.
  • Get free to become available for a pass or open up the passing lanes to the support players.
Drill 4

Game | Crossing Zones

20 minDouble penalty area
  • The game is played free with crossing zones.
  • Outside the crossing zones only ground passes are played.
  • From the crossing zone crossing is allowed and encouraged.
  • Players who enter the crossing zone may not be challenged.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the crossing zones; two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of five or six players each plus goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • On deliveries, make runs to the near post and the far post as well as into the pull-back area.
  • Before deliveries drop away to the far side in order to be able to run in diagonally.
  • Even though players in the crossing zone may not be challenged, the cross is played quickly and out of the run.

Session 3

4 drills

The focus of today's training session is the striker's play with an opponent on their back.

Whether the striker holds the ball up or plays it on, it is fundamentally important that the striker uses the foot furthest from the opponent. If the striker has a passing option for a lay-off, it usually makes sense to use it, because the passing option can then receive the ball facing the direction of play. For this, it is important that the ball-side number 6s/8s follow the ball immediately after they have been bypassed.

If the striker has no passing option to begin with, they can hold the ball up and shield it. To do this, it is important to keep the ball as far away from the opponent as possible and to block the path to the ball with the shoulder. If the defender now applies very heavy pressure or even tries to win the ball by coming round one side, the attacker can turn into the defender. Alternatively, the attacker can also try to wrong-foot the defender with a body feint (for example with a scissors or a lunge) and then turn in front of the defender.

Coaching points for this session

Striker with a defender behind:

  • Play with the foot furthest from the opponent
  • Defender applies strong pressure: turn into them
  • Create passing options for a lay-off (follow the ball as soon as the 8s/6s have been played past)
  • If the defender keeps approx.
Drill 1

Passing in Threes

15 min
  • On a command from the coach, Player C moves one to two metres towards the player with the ball — Player A.
  • Player A plays a ground pass to Player C.
  • Player C lays the ball off to Player A and turns towards Player B.
  • Player A plays the ball first time to Player B.
  • Player B controls the ball and again plays a ground pass to Player C; and so it goes on.
  • Player C receives the ball ten times from each of Players A and B, then the players change.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two cones mark the outside positions.

Equipment: Cones and one ball per group.

Players: The players split into groups of three. Two players — one of them with a ball — occupy the cones, the third stays in the middle between the two cones.

Coaching points
  • Show for the lay-off at a diagonal angle.
  • Play the ball with the outside foot.
  • After the lay-off delay briefly and, as soon as the middle player is bypassed, follow the ball at speed.
Drill 2

Playing to the Far-Side Strikers

25 minHalf a pitch
  • The ball is with the number 6 — on the other side with the number 8.
  • The number 6 dribbles around the cone and passes wide to the number 7, who takes the ball forward.
  • In the meantime the number 9 has moved towards the penalty area in order to occupy the opponents and create space for the number 10.
  • The number 7 plays a firm pass through the gap to the number 10.
  • The number 10 can either break away from the defenders and finish or play the pass on to the number 9.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Tall cones mark the positions; plus one goal.

Equipment: Tall cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: The players in positions 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 plus a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • The number 10 can open up the forward dribbling path with a shot feint or a body feint before the first touch.
  • The near-side striker — the number 9 — only makes a run wide in behind shortly before the number 7's pass to the number 10. This occupies the near-side centre-back, who is then unable to intercept the pass.
Drill 3

4 vs 4 with Striker Zone

25 minFrom the penalty area to the halfway line, played across
  • The game is played 4 vs 4 or more.
  • Each team nominates a striker who has to stay in the striker zone; no other attacking player may enter it.
  • The defenders may enter and leave the zone, but no more than one defender may be inside it at any one time.
  • The aim is to bring the striker into position, who then has to win the 1 vs 1.
  • Goals scored by the striker inside the zone count double, goals from outside by the other players count once.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Red cones mark the pitch, yellow ones the striker zone; two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones in two colours and several balls.

Players: Two teams of four or bigger plus two goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Secure the ball with the foot furthest from the opponent.
  • If the opponent defends very tightly behind the striker, the striker turns into that opponent with the foot furthest from the opponent.
  • In the striker zone either break free with a short running feint or seek body contact with the defender before the pass in order to keep that defender behind.
Drill 4

3-Zone Game: Strikers vs Defenders and Neutral Players

25 minFull pitch
  • In each zone in front of the goal two strikers play against two defenders.
  • The remaining players of both teams and the neutral players play in the middle area.
  • The aim is to pass to one's own strikers, as only they can score a goal.
  • The goalkeeper has to build up play through the defenders.
  • Only the defenders may pass to the players in the middle zone.

Variations:

  • The passer may join the final third as a third attacking player.
  • A player other than the passer may join the final third.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Lines running across the pitch divide it into three zones. At both ends there is a goal with a goalkeeper.

Equipment: 2 goals, either two full-size goals or two small goals, depending on the number of players; a combination of both is possible. Plus cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams each in their own colour of bibs plus one to four neutral players in a third colour, depending on team size; plus two goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Use the numerical advantage to combine quickly — one player is always free.
  • The players in the middle zone defend the space but do not lose sight of the end zone.
  • The defender in the zone defends very tightly behind the striker.
More on this topic Wing play · 2 ready-made sessions View sessions →
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