Crossing Drills for Football

A good cross creates goals. These crossing drills build technique, timing and the quality of delivery from wide areas that strikers thrive on.

What makes a good cross

Crossing is about delivery from wide into dangerous areas — with the right technique, timing and target. These drills work from basic technique up to crossing on the move under pressure.

Drill 1: Crossing technique

From a wide position near the byline, players cross a stationary ball into target zones in the box. Coach the plant foot, the striking surface and the type of cross (driven, lofted, cut-back).

• Get near the byline before you cross — don't cross from deep.
• Pick your target — near post, far post or cut-back.
• Whip the ball across, away from the keeper.

Drill 2: The cut-back

Practise driving to the byline and pulling the ball back to a runner arriving at the edge of the box — one of the highest-percentage crosses in football.

Drill 3: Crossing on the move

Add a dribble and a defender before the cross, and strikers attacking the box. This puts crossing into a realistic, pressured situation.

• Deliver from wide and near the byline, not midfield.
• Look up and pick out a runner.
• Match the cross to where the striker is.

Coaching points

Pair crossers with strikers so both skills develop together. Coach the timing between the wide player and the runners — a great cross to no one is wasted.

See also our guide to coaching attacking play.