Finishing drill

Overlap & Cross Finishing

A wide midfielder carries the ball inside while the full-back overlaps to deliver a cross for two attacking runners. Repetitive, game-realistic finishing from wide areas.

8–14 players
20 minutes
Half pitch
Intermediate · U13–U16

Objective

Create a 2v1 out wide and deliver early into the areas strikers are attacking.

Coaching points

Wide player drives inside to commit the defender before releasing
Overlap at speed and call loudly
Strikers cross over: near-post and far-post runs
Cross early into the corridor between the defenders and goalkeeper

Progressions

Add one then two defenders in the box
Add a recovering full-back
Underlap variation through the half-space

Regressions

Static crosser, strikers time their runs
No goalkeeper

Equipment

Full-size goal, cones, balls

Tactical relevance

Rehearses the most common chance-creation pattern from wide areas.

Technical focus

Crossing, Finishing, Timing of runs

Tactical focus

Overlapping runs, Attacking the box