Finishing and Crossing Tips

[Rema]

I was out today doing some crosses and finishing.

This year has been a bad year for me for some reason... last year I was fine with these things.

So, First issue - Finishing:

We were doing finishing from crosses, some on the ground and some up higher.

Finishing from the ground crosses: My problem was that I kept putting it over the bar (and this is from anywhere between the 6 yard line and the penalty spot). The crosses had quite a bit of pace. The goal was to put them to the far post, on the ground. I wasn't! Any suggestions on why this may be (ie: need to put my plant foot forward more), and what drills I can do to work on this or what tips you can give me, any are helpful. Where I should be connecting with my foot, etc.

Finishing from air crosses:

I was doing well to get these on target but still, lack of power on some. Again, same problems as above (ie: getting far post, on the ground).

Second issue - Crossing:

As mentioned above, we were doing crossing. The ones we did were 2 different kinds:

1st kind: We were doing them along the sides like a defender was keeping us to the outside, then pushing it ahead about 3-5 yards towards the endline (like you were getting away from the defender to make space for a cross) and crossing on the run along the ground. I had no problem with these really in that I could get it back and along the ground with pace. The problem I had was that I wasn't doing well to get it on the run. I was always kind of looping around the ball and I shouldn't have been doing that. It should be a "swivel" with my hips I guess instead of looping out a bit and giving the defender time. Hard to explain but any tips with crossing on the run and getting my hips turned in would be great.

2nd kind: For some reason I was doing crappy with these today. We would be played a ball in to us (from the inside of the park towards the outside near the sideline), and we would be crossing them in towards the far post in the air. The problem I had was that I was putting them up WAY to high.

I would just like to know why I was putting them high (any ideas to why at least), and what I can do/should be doing to keep them lower. We were aiming to put these at the far post so a player could connect. Pace on these was also very important.

All suggestions welcome, cheers.

[JayeMTee88]

I was out today doing some crosses and finishing.

This year has been a bad year for me for some reason... last year I was fine with these things.

So, First issue - Finishing:

We were doing finishing from crosses, some on the ground and some up higher.

Finishing from the ground crosses: My problem was that I kept putting it over the bar (and this is from anywhere between the 6 yard line and the penalty spot). The crosses had quite a bit of pace. The goal was to put them to the far post, on the ground. I wasn't! Any suggestions on why this may be (ie: need to put my plant foot forward more), and what drills I can do to work on this or what tips you can give me, any are helpful. Where I should be connecting with my foot, etc.

Finishing from air crosses:

I was doing well to get these on target but still, lack of power on some. Again, same problems as above (ie: getting far post, on the ground).



On the first part, you said that the crosses were coming in with speed and that you were between the 6 yd. bow and the penalty spot (correct me if I'm assuming wrong). On the low hard passes, especially with being as close as you were, don't put any more power onto the ball. Simply tighten up your leg, lock your ankle and place the ball where it needs to go. Even more so for the backpost, just kinda redirect the ball like a one touch pass, with less of a kick. Trying to power it into the back of the net will loosen up your ankle and worsen your foot placement on the ball, that's what makes the ball go over the bar. just give it enough touch to redirect it past the keeper and keep practicing.

On the air crosses, with a volley do the same thing, more redirecting and placement like a one-touch pass. on a header, make sure you can get up over the ball so you can snap down on it for more power and placement. In a game situation, if the ball is too high for you to get up over it, let it go to a teammate behind you who has better position. If there is no one behind you, then simply head the ball back across the box for a team mate to finish on. And as always, keep practicing.

Seeing as how I'm lazy and that took longer than expected, I'll just leave the second part up to someone else. But the answer is mainly just gonna be to keep practicing, you can't be told how to do it and expect to just walk out and do it perfectly.

[Dizzee Wahil]

Yeah you post a pretty tough question Rema.

I cant really say anything that specifically addresses your problems but I'll give my little attitute towards crosses/volleys etc.

The way I see it, u got 2 options 2 hit a volley, with the laces and with the sidefoot. If I can, I'll always try and get my laces onto a shot, because that gives u optimum control and power. However when crosses are too quick or too high, the easiest way is to simply steer the ball home with the side foot. Its a pretty good method as it usually goes a nice height (tho u gotta try n keep it under as best as possible).

Volleying is all about the getting the best direction and accuracy, because I think the power is usually easy to generate. For me, its usually just trying to get my foot over the ball as best as possible.

sorry this is a crappy post