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Crossing Technique

The majority of the time you will want to use the inside of your foot to cross the ball. However, of course there will be times when you want to cross the ball with the outside of your foot or drive the ball in with your instep - anyway to get the ball into the box.

Push the ball a little a head of you at an angle so you avoid the defender and give yourself enough space to cross the ball without the defender getting a touch. Turn your hips at an angle to the ball. Wrap your foot around the ball to bend it with the inside area of your foot. Strike the ball with pace, although not necessarily like a shot, you take just a little pace off the ball but enough to whip the ball skillfully into the box. It's like taking a free kick or set piece, you want enough power to make it on goal but enough touch and skill to bend around the wall or to get over the wall.

Take a look at Beckham whip in this cross that results in a goal by Ronaldo: Beckham Cross.

More on Crossing: Get the Ball in the Box

As a winger or wide midfielder it is important to get the ball in the goal box. That means serving the ball across the goal mouth. Whip the ball in. Put the ball in with pace. This makes it easier for the targeted player to redirect the ball on goal and also helps avoid getting the ball cut out or blocked by a defender.

Get accustomed to crossing the ball when you have the opportunity. You dn't have to beat always beat the defender. The defender, who is marking you, will begin to think you are going to cross it every time, that’s when you take the player on and go down the line to cut the ball back or take a shot yourself.

Plus, you don't need to reach the end line to cross the ball. You can and should cross the ball from any point over the half line really, as long as you are trying to pick out someone directly or if you are leading a player with a cross or long pass - as that player makes a run towards goal.

Stock Ball

With this play you’re trying to get to the end touchline and lay the ball back to a teammate. As a team you can try to seek this kind of situation out - get the ball wide to a midfielder who can take the defender on and cut the ball back across the goal mouth. You want to make it difficult for both the goal keeper and the defense to keep their eyes on the ball and the player they’re marking.

There are numerous options, but another could be playing the ball down the line to a forward, who has made a diagonal run, who can turn then turn and cut the ball back to a teammate across the goal mouth. This could be a quick early pass across the goal mouth too.
As a rule, if you can beat your defender down the line then go for it - but if you can bend the ball around the defender or feint and get enough space to get the cross in, go for it. 

Be aware of where your forwards are - so you can time the pass right and have the ball meet them at the right time and pace, as they move towards the goal. Try to pick someone out with your pass. A stock ball is an ideal play that often leads to an assured goal.

See these passing videos.