How to Cross the ball with Precision!
- aaronptighe
- Feb 1
- 2 min read
Imagine being so good at a technique that the world names the action after you, in this case, “Bend it like Beckham.” With 23% of goals coming from crosses, watching recent games in the Premier League, it’s brilliant to see crossing prevalent once again: the crowd’s excitement as the ball heads into the box, the unknown of what will happen in the next moment. Will the defender clear, or will the forward score? It’s what the game is all about, creating moments of suspense and excitement.
The art of crossing the ball into the danger zone is a challenging skill to master and takes massive practice over time. Think about it: you are either a) running down the wing at full pace, a defender chasing you, dribbling the ball or meeting it to cross first time, orb) maneuvering the ball away from a defender in front of you from an almost standing position, to whip the ball around them into the box.
You visualise where the ball has to go. In almost all cases, this is between the goalkeeper and where the last defenders are — the danger zone, no man’s land, or, as we used to say as players, the “yours, mine, leave it” area for goalkeepers and defenders, such is the uncertainty it causes.
You calculate, in nanoseconds, where your standing foot needs to land next to the ball, diagonally towards the goal, and where your kicking foot and inside of the laces need to connect with the ball — under and around the side.
You judge where to start the direction of the ball, so that the bend takes it towards the goal and then bends away from the goalkeeper.
All of this while keeping your balance and eye on the ball, with your peripheral vision seeing the area you are playing it into. Amazing, isn’t it?
Check out this collection of David Beckham crosses and see examples where he demonstrates these techniques brilliantly and consistently. There are other styles, like side-foot or volleyed crosses, but the famous “Bend it like Beckham” line is all about those terrific curling balls that are pinpointed to where the forward’s run will meet the ball. Precision.
One2Pro:
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Be the One!
Aaron Tighe
Founder, One2Pro
*What It Takes. Available on major retailers in hardcopy, eBook and audio.
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