Build Up to a Cross

A passing pattern up the wing that ends in a cross — except the kids don't know the ending yet.

Name the cross too early and they skip straight to it. The build-up has to connect first — that is the whole lesson.

U11–U126+ players15–25 min1 ball, 1 flag or tall cone, 1 goal

Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive

Grab: A ball, one flag or tall cone, and use a goal.
Build: Put the flag wide on the wing — where a winger would take their last touch before crossing.
Place: Ball starts with your center midfielders. One forward ready to check back toward them. One player wide near the flag.

One thing to remember: Checking back to receive, playing wide at the right moment, and timing a run onto a cross.

How it runs — the whole game in one sentence

Middle finds the checking forward, forward plays it wide, wide player rounds the flag — and later, crosses it in.

1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Set the pattern's positions — two central, one checking forward, one wide by the flag.
Coach says
Two in the middle, one up top, one wide by the flag.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk the pattern once. Do not say the word "cross" — if you name the ending, they skip the build-up and never learn it.
Coach says
We're building a pattern: middle, up, wide, around the flag. That's the whole job for now.
3Play▾
Coach does
Run only the pattern for about five minutes. Add the cross and finishers only once it is connecting.
Coach says
Middle. Check. Wide. Around.
Look for: Two connected passes before the ball goes wide.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
Rotate players through the checking-forward and wide jobs. Once the pattern connects, reveal the ending and let them finish.
Coach says
Now finish it — cross it in!

If it's not working

Stop and ask: "What are we working on?" — "Crossing." — "What has to happen before we cross?" Rebuild from two connected passes.

Want to go deeper? Optional — not needed to run the game.

Why are we doing this?

This is a tutorial level. In the source coach's words: "This is Rocket League. You're learning how to jump and boost before you're trying to hit the ball." The pattern alone is the jumping and boosting; the cross is the ball.

What are they learning?

Checking back to receive, playing wide at the right moment, and timing a run onto a cross.

How can I change it?

Easier: Shrink the pattern — shorter distances between every station.

Harder: Add passive pressure on the wide player once the pattern connects.

Next: Seven to Goal — the same building habit, run through the middle of the field.