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Hoffenheim Pull Back, Cross & Finish
ADDED TO FAVOURITES
Practice Breakdown:
Number of Players: 7 | Pitch size: 1/3 Pitch
This pullback, cross and finish practice focuses on creating goalscoring opportunities through wide combinations and inswinging deliveries. Play begins in a wide area, where a player receives and pulls the ball back to a supporting teammate. The supporting player then drives inside onto the ball, creating the angle to deliver an inswinging cross into the penalty area. The emphasis is on timing, quality of delivery and coordinated attacking movement.
As the cross is delivered, an attacker makes a well-timed run in behind to attack the space and finish. The practice is mirrored on both sides of the pitch, allowing wide players to work on delivering crosses from both the left and right wing. This provides repeated opportunities to develop crossing technique, movement patterns and finishing from a variety of angles and approaches.
• Quality of the Pullback Pass:
Encourage accurate pullbacks with the correct weight and timing to allow the supporting player to attack the ball positively.
• Body Shape for the Delivery:
Reinforce receiving with an open body shape and creating the correct angle to deliver an effective inswinging cross.
• Timing of the Run In Behind:
Coach attackers to delay their movement initially before accelerating into space to meet the delivery at speed.
• Crossing Detail and End Product:
Emphasise delivering crosses with appropriate pace, height and trajectory to maximise finishing opportunities inside the box.
Alternate Foot Crossing:
Require wide players to deliver crosses using their weaker foot during selected repetitions of the practice.
Focus:
Improves technical versatility, crossing consistency and confidence when delivering from different sides of the pitch.