Exercise of the week (16)

Possession Drill + Striker Combination + Crossing & Finishing

🎯 Objective:

• improve possession under pressure;
• develop play through the striker;
• train wide combinations, crossing and finishing.

🧩 Required Equipment:

• footballs;
• flat markers (cones);
• slalom poles.

👥 Players:

• 6 players in the possession area.
• 3 attacking players near the goal:
  • 1 central striker;
  • 1 right midfielder;
  • 1 left midfielder.

 

📍 Organization:

A 4 vs 2 possession area is created around the middle of the pitch.

Approximately 20 meters from goal, three attacking players are positioned:

• central striker;
• right midfielder;
• left midfielder.

Inside the possession area:

• 6 players are divided into teams of 4 vs 2.

✅ Exercise Description:

The exercise starts with a 4 vs 2 possession game.

When the two defending players recover possession, they immediately:

1. play the ball into the central striker;
2. the player who passed the ball makes a supporting run for a lay-off pass;
3. after receiving the set pass, he switches the ball wide to either the left or right midfielder.

The wide midfielder:

• delivers a cross into the box.

The action is finished by:

• the central striker;
  or
• the opposite-side midfielder arriving into the box.

The sequence ends with a shot on goal.

🔄 Rotation:

The next 4 vs 2 possession game begins with:

• the team formed by the two players who lost possession in the previous sequence.

Wide midfielders and the striker rotate periodically.

🎯 Coaching Points:

• Quick transition after recovery – attack immediately after winning the ball;
• Quality of lay-off play – accurate support and timing around the striker;
• Timing in the box – attack the cross at the right moment.