Clever out wide

Why use it

Will show your wide players how to put good balls into the feet of attackers, who are battling to try to lose their markers and score.

Set up

Use half of your normal pitch and mark out a box in the middle that lines up with the six-yard box. We’ve used eight players in this session. You will need balls, bibs, cones and two normal goals.

How to play

Split players into two teams of four. The defending team has two defenders and two goalkeepers; the attacking team has two wide players and two in the centre box. There is an attacker and a defender in each half of the central box. The defenders stay in their half and the others can’t leave the box. 

The game starts and restarts with a pass from one of the goalkeepers. The game is not directional, so attackers can score in either goal. In the final part of the game, allow players to go out of the box.

Coaching points

• We want to see the players who are crossing to look up, to identify the area they want to play the ball into, and consider the timing and technique of their delivery.
• The attackers should time their runs appropriately to lose their markers and meet the crosses with a first-time finish.