Crosses: deciding whether to come or stay
Crosses from the byline at different heights and distances with live attackers; on every ball the keeper decides whether to come and claim or stay on the line to face the finish.
Step 1Centro corto: salir
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El balón entra en la zona de salida; el portero grita 'mía' y bloca por alto antes que el atacante.
Objective
Improve reading of the cross and the decision between coming out to intercept or staying positioned for the finish.
Organisation
Quarter pitch with a goal. Coach or crosser with balls near the byline, 15 m from goal. Two attackers in the box: one at the near post and one at the far post. A claiming zone marked with cones between 1 and 7 m from the goal line. Two keepers alternate every 6 crosses.
Development
- 1The keeper takes a set position facing the ball, between the centre of the goal and the near post.
- 2The crosser alternates two types of delivery: a driven or floated cross into the claiming zone and a deep cross to the far post, outside the zone.
- 3If the ball enters the claiming zone, the keeper shouts 'keeper', comes out and catches high, getting in front of the near-post attacker.
- 4If the ball goes deep, the keeper shouts 'away' or the team-mate's name, adjusts towards the far post with lateral steps and gets ready for the far-post attacker's finish.
- 5After each ball the keeper returns to the starting position.
- 6Sets of 6 crosses per keeper with the order of deliveries chosen by the crosser.
Coaching points4
- Read the height and pace of the cross at the moment of contact and decide before the ball passes the near post.
- Open starting position, shoulders facing the ball and feet ready either to come out or to move across.
- Always communicate: 'keeper' when coming and a clear instruction when staying.
- On far-post balls, arrive balanced and in the set position before the finish.
Common mistakes3
- Taking a step towards the ball and then backing off, caught between two decisions.
- Coming for balls outside the claiming zone and being far from goal at the finish.
- Watching the attacker instead of the ball during the flight of the cross.
Variations3
- Add one defender per attacker to reproduce realistic congestion in the box.
- Crosses from both flanks, alternating without warning.
- Allow the crosser a cut-back to the edge of the box to force a third decision.
Progressions2
- Attackers finish actively and the keeper must defend the shot when staying.
- Crosses that bounce first or carry swerve to complicate the read.
Regressions2
- Hand-served crosses from 10-12 m with static attackers.
- Announce the type of cross before each ball until the keeper masters both responses.
Tips
- Log correct decisions, not just catches: a good decision to stay counts as a success.
- Adjust the claiming zone to the age and reach of the keeper.