Crossing, Finishing, and Shooting Drill
Attackers Defenders Neutral Goalkeeper Pass Run Dribble Shot
This soccer crossing drill for U11–U16 teams trains the full package: the delivery, the runs, and the finish. Wide players drive to the end line and serve into the danger zone while three finishers crash the box on curved runs - building the timing that turns crosses into goals, whether by boot or by head.
Browse the full crossing drills library for more like this, or explore every soccer drill for U14 players.
Setup
- Use a full-size goal with a goalkeeper.
- Station your wide players - wingers, wide midfielders, outside backs - as servers on both sides of the penalty area, each side with a supply of balls.
- Form three finishing lines in central midfield with the remaining players; these runners will crash the box on every serve.
How It Works
- On the coach's command, the right-side server dribbles hard to the end line and delivers a cross to land 6–12 yards from goal.
- The first player in each finishing line makes a curved run to attack one post each: near post, center, far post.
- Finishers score as quickly as possible - one touch whenever they can.
- If a quick shot is not on, or the ball is received with back to goal, lay it back to the central line for a first-time strike.
- Alternate serves between the right and left sides and rotate the finishing lines.
Coaching Points
- The server must attack the end line at speed - slow approaches let defenses recover.
- A prep touch toward the middle signals the cross is coming and lets the server turn their hips toward goal before delivering.
- Finishers make curved runs to their assigned spots, not straight sprints.
- Time the runs to arrive in the 6–12 yard zone exactly as the ball does.
Variations
- Add passive defenders in the box.
- Turn the defenders live once the attackers are comfortable, adding real pressure to the finishing.