Hey guys.
Matt here from Epic Soccer Training.
I want to teach you how to cross a soccer
ball.
OK, guys.
This is one that you asked for so I wanted
to do it and I think more people need work
on this too is learning how to cross a soccer
ball.
I'm an avid tea and coffee drinker so I don't
know if you can see the little teacups that
are over there.
Chas is pointing out one and then the one
that's just beyond the PK mark which PK mark
is 12 yards from the goal.
That is basically your target area is you're
aiming anywhere inside there.
When you get to be a little bit more of an
advanced play, you can kind of move that one
back because people can take full volleys
from 25 yards out and score.
I like getting the ball way back there personally
and taking a full volley but I want to teach
you kind of where you should be aiming because
one of the first things is to learn where
I should actually put the ball.
The reason why you don't want to put the ball,
for the most part obviously sometimes you
will have a low-driven ball and somebody will
be running in on the six and giving a quick
header.
But one of the reasons why is because the
goalie can come out.
He can obviously get higher than anybody else,
jumping and punching the ball out.
So you want to kind of tend to keep it away
from him and I would say the further in you
go, the lower and more driven ball you should
have.
Again, if you check out the ping soccer video
that will be up, you will see that you want
that low line drive.
So this is kind of where you're aiming.
Now there are two types of ways you can basically
cross the ball.
One is you're going to just be coming on the
ball and you're going to be kind of pinging
which is that low-driven ball for somebody
coming in which is really great because when
you're a striker, you will know that you love
having those balls driven in.
So you can come around and get more power
with a volley or let it come through your
leg and hitting it like that.
So that's one that I like doing.
I like learning how to ping a soccer ball
and again, just to give you the quick basics
on that, it's just a quick chop here on the
inside of the ball.
So come at it from a little bit of an angle.
Have your plant foot maybe a foot out and
just come on the inside of the ball towards
the sweet spot.
So you're going from the center maybe an inch
over and what that's going to do is it's going
to make it go straight and give it that little
backspin.
So see how you got that backspin there?
Oh, you got to give him some credit.
He has got a blown knee and he's out here
so thumbs him up for that.
The next one that I want to teach you is one
you will see a lot in European play which
is the in-swinger.
If you're a left mid, most likely if you're
a left winger like I had played for a lot,
a long time and I loved it, but you would
play these in-swingers.
So if you're naturally left-footed, unless
you're playing Dutch, give it up for the Dutch
here, a lot of times they will actually put
right-footed players on the left side so that
they can kind of go to goal and take shots
and move inward but you can see over there.
I will explain this one.
So what you want to do is come on the ball
at more of an angle because you're going to
want to get that spin.
The reason why it's great to have lefties
on the left side of the field is because when
you get the spin going this way, it's easier
for someone to come around or when it's spinning
like this, this is what I mean, when it's
in-swinging like this, it's spinning perfect
so it will hit flush on your head or whatever
part you're taking the ball with and it's
going to go more straight whereas if it was
swinging in like this going this way, when
you hit it, it's going to keep having spin
and it's a lot harder to deal with with anybody
who's on goal and obviously if you're taking
a cross, you want to score.
You want to have a good assist.
So hopefully my mic won't fall off here but
you're coming at the ball a little bit more
and then see how you got that spin there and
you're going to want to obviously kick it
with a little more power in the air.
So I will show you that here because you're
going to want to get it to him.
But again, you're going to want to try and
put some good spin on it.
So see, that's pretty much right at the area
because you got to take in account Chas is
not going to be just standing there.
He's going to be working towards the goal.
So you want to try and put it right in front
of where he is going to be.
So Chas, make a little dummy run towards the
front post.
So again, if he's coming in, now it's a little
bit out wide.
That's where I lead it.
So if he's coming in again and I want to kind
of curve the ball, he's coming.
I feel so bad.
He has got one leg.
So anyway, that's kind of the basics but I
love doing the in-swingers.
One of the reasons why I love doing the in-swingers
is because it kind of tricks the goalie because
a lot of times when it's curving like this,
the goalie is going to second guess.
He's going to come out.
He will be coming this way.
As the ball is coming through, he's going
to think, I can get it.
Oh, maybe I can't, and then he's kind of in
no man's land where you can head the ball
over.
They can head it over near a post or something
like that.
So again, really focus on driving the ball
because you don't want to have this ball where
it's just sitting in the air and everybody
is just kind of waiting for it and then the
defenders can get in the position.
You're trying to get people out of position
and then as you get a little bit better, really
challenge yourself.
You're going to want to take a step and then
come across.
Even that was like a little high.
Pretty windy.
So again, you want to kind of work at it from
that perspective.
So I just want to teach you the basics of
how to cross a soccer ball.
Those are kind of the two ways you can do
it but also you want to talk to your forwards
as well and let them know where you actually
want the ball.
For me, I know I love getting a cross because
I was a smaller guy.
I was 5'8 and when I was in high school, I
was like 5'3 or 5'2.
I loved having really driven low liners.
They were really pinged so I liked it when
it was even coming in like that.
But again, just take into account of where
the forward is, where they're going to be.
Try and put the ball to where they're going
to be so when they're coming on it, they're
coming on it with full force.
So again that's how to cross a soccer ball.
I hope you liked it.
If you got any questions, let me know.
If you want to know maybe some different techniques
or what you're having trouble with, let me
know.
I will be more than happy to help you out
and don't forget to like, subscribe, to get
updates and if you want to get more soccer
tips, easiest way, click the link right below
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Check that out and you will be well on your
way to reaching another level in soccer.
So I hope you enjoyed the video and I will
see you guys in the next lesson.
That was a good one.
