Attacking the End Line Crossing Game

Attackers Defenders Neutral Goalkeeper Pass Run Dribble Shot

The Attacking the End Line Crossing Game is a soccer crossing drill for U12–U16 that isolates wide players in their own channel and makes their delivery the only way to score. Wingers battle 1v1 to reach the end line and serve, while the central players learn near-post, far-post, and trailing runs. It's flank play with a purpose on every possession.

This drill pairs well with others in the crossing category, and you can find age-matched sessions under U14 drills.

Setup

• Use half a field. Move a portable goal to the midfield line so it faces the goal on the end line.
• With 4–5 cones per side, mark a 10-yard-wide channel along each touchline.
• Two teams of four play in the central area, and each team also puts one player into the channels - creating a 1v1 on each flank.
• Place a goalkeeper in both goals. One team kicks off; spare balls wait behind the goals.

How It Works

1. Play 4v4 in the central zone and 1v1 in the wide channels.
2. Goals only count when the scoring move starts with a serve from a channel.
3. When the ball enters a channel, the wide pair duels 1v1 until the attacker breaks into the attacking end of the channel - at that point the defender releases and allows the cross.
4. As the cross comes in, the four central attackers take up near-post, far-post, trailing, and supporting runs. Play continues after each attempt.

Coaching Points

• Coach the service itself: when to cut it back low, when to clip to the far post, when to drive it hard across the six.
• Crossers should look up at the end line - pick a runner, don't just sling it in.
• Central attackers: stagger the runs so near post, far post, and trail arrive at different heights and times.
• Feed the channels early and often; the flanks are where this game is won.

Variations

• Add or remove central players to change the congestion in the box.
• Encourage wall passes, overlaps, and takeovers to free the channel player.
• Rotate channel players regularly so everyone crosses and defends wide.