Week 28

Outcomes

• ✓Players can attack the near post, far post, and penalty spot with correct movement timing
• ✓Players can redirect a cutback with the inside of the foot to the far post without breaking stride
• ✓Players can hold their run to stay onside until the crosser's foot strikes the ball
• ✓Players can call the movement position (near, far, penalty) to organise the box

Equipment

• 10 cones
• 6 poles
• 6 bibs (3 colours)
• 4 balls
• 2 full-size goals
• 2 goalkeepers
• 1 whiteboard + marker

Run of show

1. 1. Activation & 11+ Warm-Up

   15m

   Set up: Two lines of 6 facing each other at 10 yds. Cones mark a 30×20 yd grid.

   How to run it: FIFA 11+ protocol: jogging, lateral shuffles, high knees, bounding, single-leg squats (2×10 each side). Add a box movement drill: three players jog to near-post, far-post, and penalty-spot cones on coach's call, receiving a soft serve at each cone and finishing into a mini goal. Two reps each, then 2×25-yd striding runs.

   • ›Arrive at the cone ready to shoot – don't stop and then shoot, arrive shooting
   • ›Near-post player must hold the run until the serve; early run = offside
   • ›Knee over the ball on low, driven finishes

2. 2. Technical/Functional Practice – Cutback Finishing Circuit

   15m

   Set up: Full-size goal with goalkeeper. Wide player at the byline cone (5 yds from the end line, 3 yds inside the touchline). Three strikers take positions at near post, penalty spot, and far post. Rotate every 4 reps.

   How to run it: Wide player receives a pass, drives to the byline, and cuts the ball back across the six-yard box. Near-post player checks away and peels to near post for a deflection or flick. Penalty-spot player attacks the cutback with a driven first-time finish. Far-post player arrives late for the rebound or a second cutback. Progress: add a passive defender on the penalty-spot player.

   • ›Cutback must be played along the ground, away from the goalkeeper's reach
   • ›Penalty-spot player should lean back slightly to keep the finish down
   • ›Far-post player must time the run – arrive as the ball is being cut back, not before
   • ›Goalkeeper: stay on the goal line until the cutback is released

3. 3. Skill/Phase Game – 4v3 Finishing Under Pressure

   15m

   Set up: Final third (35×40 yds). Attacking team of 4 (one wide, one supporting, two in the box) vs 3 defenders plus goalkeeper. Coach serves to the wide player to start.

   How to run it: Wide player receives and attempts to drive to the byline for a cutback or cross. Defenders apply live pressure. Attacking players in the box must hold their runs until the wide player's head is down to cross. Play for 90 seconds then rotate. Award 2 points for a cutback goal, 1 point for a headed or far-post finish.

   • ›Box runners must not bunch – spread across near post, penalty spot, far post
   • ›If the cutback is blocked, look for a cutback from the opposite side
   • ›Support player must be available outside the box for a lay-off and shot

4. 4. Conditioned Tactical Game – Wide Attack Focus

   20m

   Set up: 60×44 yd full pitch, 9v9 with goalkeepers. Wide channels (5 yds) on each side are free zones for attacking wide players only.

   How to run it: Normal play with one condition: goals scored from cutbacks or crosses count double. Defenders cannot enter the wide channels. After 10 minutes, remove the channel restriction for free play. Coach uses a freeze once to demonstrate a missed cutback opportunity and asks: 'Where should the near-post, penalty-spot, and far-post runners be?'

   • ›Wide attacker should look up before driving into the channel – identify box positions first
   • ›Midfield runner into the box must be a late arrival; don't track into an offside position early
   • ›Defending fullback: close the wide channel early before the ball arrives
   • ›Goalkeeper: come off the line to narrow angle on a cutback – don't stay rooted

5. 5. Scrimmage – Free Play

   15m

   Set up: Full pitch, 9v9, goalkeepers, no conditions.

   How to run it: Open scrimmage. Players apply the box movement patterns freely. Coach identifies two cutback opportunities (one taken, one missed) to reference in the debrief.

   • ›Look for players self-organising box positions without being told
   • ›Note any moments of strong near-post or far-post communication

6. 6. Cool-Down & Debrief

   5m

   Set up: Circle on the centre spot.

   How to run it: Light stretching (quads, hip flexors, hamstrings). Ask players to name the three box positions and one coaching point for each. Coach reinforces: 'near post holds the run, penalty spot attacks the cutback, far post arrives last.'

   • ›Check understanding of the offside timing cue
   • ›Set a clear homework task

Outcomes

• ✓Players can deliver a low, driven cross into the cutback zone under defensive pressure
• ✓Players can deliver a lofted cross to the far post with correct flight and pace
• ✓Players can organise box runners with clear communication before the cross is delivered
• ✓Players can attack the ball at full pace and redirect with a first-time finish

Equipment

• 10 cones
• 4 bibs (2 colours)
• 5 balls
• 2 full-size goals
• 2 goalkeepers

Run of show

1. 1. Activation & 11+ Warm-Up

   15m

   Set up: Two lines of 6 in a 30×20 yd strip. Crossing zone marked on one side at 10 yds from goal.

   How to run it: FIFA 11+ protocol: running technique exercises (forward, sideways, backward), hip mobility, single-leg balance, Nordic hamstring curl (2×6), and two explosive change-of-direction sprints. Finish with 5 minutes of loose passing and movement: pairs pass and move in the grid, one player calling 'cross!' and making a run to the far post.

   • ›Nordic curls: control the descent slowly – injury prevention, not speed
   • ›Change of direction: plant low, drive off the outside foot
   • ›Calling 'cross!' early gives the crosser a target

2. 2. Technical/Functional Practice – Crossing Technique Circuit

   15m

   Set up: Full-size goal with goalkeeper. Cones mark three crossing zones: byline cutback (5 yds from end line), 18-yard crossing zone, and a deep crossing zone at 25 yds. Groups of 3 rotate through each zone.

   How to run it: Each player delivers 3 crosses from each zone: a cutback along the ground from the byline, a driven cross to the penalty spot from the 18-yard zone, and a lofted cross to the far post from 25 yds. Two strikers attack the box for each cross. Progress: add a passive defender running across to block the crosser.

   • ›Byline cross: open the hips and sweep through the ball; aim behind the keeper's line
   • ›18-yard cross: low, fast, and hard – don't lift it, drive it
   • ›Far-post lofted cross: non-kicking foot points to the target; wrap around the ball with the instep
   • ›Strikers: don't arrive at the back post before the ball – time the run

3. 3. Skill/Phase Game – Wide Attack vs Full Defence

   15m

   Set up: Half-pitch, 5v5 plus two wide players (one on each side). One goalkeeper. The two wide players play with whichever team is attacking.

   How to run it: Attacking team uses the two wide players to create crossing opportunities. Defending team applies live pressure. To score, the ball must enter the box via a cross; no central shots from outside the box. Rotate attacking and defending teams every 5 minutes.

   • ›Overload wide: use a 2v1 to create a clean crossing position for the wide player
   • ›Central attackers must spread across the box – near post and far post positions before the cross
   • ›Wide player must check their head is up before crossing – see where the strikers are

4. 4. Conditioned Tactical Game – Cross to Score

   20m

   Set up: Full 60×40 yd pitch, 9v9 with goalkeepers. Goals only count from crosses (headers, volleys, first-time finishes off a cross or cutback).

   How to run it: Play 9v9 with the scoring condition. After 12 minutes, remove the condition and allow normal goals for the final 8 minutes. Coach pauses once in the conditioned phase to reorganise box positions and ask: 'Who is at near post, who is at far post, who is at the penalty spot?'

   • ›If no wide option, recycle possession – don't force a cross from a closed position
   • ›Defenders: don't follow box runners too early; track the run only as the cross arrives
   • ›Attacking fullbacks should overlap to add a second wide crossing option
   • ›Keeper: command the box – call 'mine!' or 'away!' clearly on every cross

5. 5. Scrimmage – Free Play

   15m

   Set up: Full pitch, 9v9, goalkeepers, no conditions.

   How to run it: Open scrimmage. Players apply all techniques freely. Coach watches for communication from box runners and crossing decisions.

   • ›Observe whether players self-select the correct cross type based on position
   • ›Note any crosses that create a second-phase chance (rebound, far-post arrival)

6. 6. Cool-Down & Debrief

   5m

   Set up: Circle on the centre spot, light static stretching.

   How to run it: Stretching while coach highlights one excellent crossing moment and one missed chance. Ask: 'What is the difference between a cutback and a driven cross, and when do you choose each?' Close with the homework.

   • ›Reinforce decision-making: match the cross type to the position of the runners
   • ›Positive close with a named player who improved their crossing today