3 Effective Tips To Become A Better Winger In Soccer

Wingers are undeniably one of the most popular players in soccer, loved by fans everywhere for their exciting playing style.

These players conventionally operate on the flanks of the pitch and are known for their exceptional speed, skill, and creativity, which makes watching them in action an absolute joy.

It’s no surprise that young aspiring players grow up idolizing these wide attackers, as they represent the epitome of what it means to be an exciting and effective player on the field.

Wingers often showcase their ability to take on opponents one-on-one, deliver pinpoint crosses into the box, and score incredible goals with their exceptional shooting abilities.

Here are three effective tips to help improve aspiring young wingers.

Improve Your Crossing

If you are playing as a wide attacker, it’s important to know that there are many different roles you can take on.

One of the most effective roles is that of a winger.

The traditional task is to stay wide on the flank and make runs up and down the touchline to receive the ball. From there, the main objective is to get past the opposing fullback and deliver a cross into the box for the striker to attack.

But being a winger is about more than just crossing the ball. As a winger, you also need to have a good understanding of the game and be able to read the movements of your teammates and opponents.

Crosses can be grouped into three main categories:

• Floated cross

When you perform a floated cross, the most important thing to remember is that the ball should be in the air.

This type of cross may not have a lot of speed on it, but it can still be a potent attacking weapon if executed accurately.

A floated cross is normally delivered with a gentle lob that allows the ball to travel slowly toward the goal. This type of cross is often used when the attacking team is looking to create space and time for their strikers to get into a good position to score.

One of the benefits of a floated cross is that it gives the attacking team time to reposition and prepare for the incoming ball.

If the ball is crossed correctly, it can cause confusion in the defending team’s backline, making it difficult for them to clear the ball.

To make a floated cross work, the accuracy of the delivery is crucial.

The cross should be aimed at a specific target, such as the penalty spot or the far post, and delivered with just the right amount of power.

If the cross is too strong or too weak, it may not reach the intended target or be easily cleared by the defense.

• Whipped cross

They’re similar to floated crosses, but they’re kicked harder and with more precision.

Just like floated crosses, whipped crosses are off the ground, but their height can be somewhat different depending on how it was kicked.

The good thing about whipped crosses is that they don’t necessarily require the attacker to receive the ball with a header. Instead, they’re drilled in hard toward the goal, so even a small touch or deflection can be enough to beat the goalkeeper and score a goal.

The key to executing a successful whipped cross is to have good technique and accuracy.

You need to be able to kick the ball with enough force to get it past the defenders and toward the goal, while also keeping it low enough so that it’s difficult for the keeper to reach.

• Low cross

If you’re aiming for a low cross, remember that the less power you put into it, the more precise you’ll need to be in order to hit your intended target.

These crosses are called “along the ground” and look very much like a regular pass.

It’s also worth noting that there are different moments during a game when you can cross the ball. Knowing when to put in a cross can be just as critical as choosing the right type of cross.

• Cross early

If you cross the ball early, you have the advantage of catching the defensive team off guard.

Your marker might not have had enough time to close you down, leaving you with more space to make the cross.

However, remember that your teammates might also not have had enough time to anticipate an early ball. So, while crossing early can be beneficial, it’s important to communicate with your teammates and make sure they’re ready for the pass.

• Create an opening, then cross

If you hold off a little longer before crossing, it gives your marker time to approach you.

However, this isn’t necessarily a disadvantage.

If you have speed, agility, or skill, you can use these abilities to beat your marker and create more space for yourself.

Once you’ve created that space, you’ll have the freedom to pick out a teammate in the middle of the pitch.

You should know that this approach requires more confidence and technique, but it can be a highly effective way to set up a goal-scoring opportunity.

• Get to the byline

If you wait even longer before crossing the ball, it’s likely that the defensive team will have had time to get back and get organized.

Breaking them down can be quite challenging at this point, but it’s not impossible.

One crossing technique that can be highly effective is getting the ball to the byline and then picking out a teammate who’s arriving into the box.

This can be a very difficult move for the defenders to defend against, and it often results in a goal-scoring opportunity. However, it requires precise timing and communication with your teammates, so it’s important to practice this technique during training.

• Don’t cross at all

As a winger, you might feel pressure to cross the ball every time you get possession. However, it’s important to remember that there are other options available to you.

For instance, you can lay the ball off to a teammate who has more space and is in a better position to make a shot.

And, if you see an opportunity to charge into the box yourself, don’t be afraid to take it.

This can catch the defenders off guard and create a goal-scoring opportunity for you or your teammates.

So, don’t limit yourself to just crossing the ball every time – be creative and take advantage of any opportunities that arise.

Lose Your Marker

As a winger in a football game, you can expect to be closely monitored by the opposing team’s full-back.

Your marker will be vigilant and try to closely mark you, making it difficult for you to fulfill your role as a winger. In order to perform your responsibilities effectively, you will need to find ways to lose your marker, even if only for a brief moment.

There are many different ways you can lose your marker as a winger.

Here are a few examples:

• Pace

One of the effective weapons that wingers use to lose their marker is their speed.

It is a technique that is prominent in most wingers, and it can be incredibly advantageous when it comes to running down the flanks.

The pace of a winger can be a game-changer, as it enables them to quickly move away from their marker and create space for themselves.

Wingers who possess explosive speed can be challenging to defend against, as they can quickly switch directions and leave their marker behind.

However, it’s important to note that while speed can be a huge advantage, it isn’t the only method that wingers can use to lose their marker.

Using their technical abilities and intelligence to deceive their marker and create opportunities for themselves.

For instance, a winger can employ a feint or fake to deceive their marker, causing them to move in the opposite direction, creating space for the winger to move forward.

Better still, they can make use of diagonal runs and overlapping movements to lose their marker and create space.

Moreover, the ability to switch movements and be unpredictable can be an essential asset for a (WF).

If you become predictable, your marker can quickly adapt and defend against your moves.

Hence why you must be able to use a combination of techniques, such as sudden direction changes followed by diagonal runs, or fakes and feints accompanied by overlapping runs.

• Acceleration

As a winger, acceleration is an important attribute that is distinct from pace. It refers to your ability to move swiftly from a stationary or walking pace to a sprint.

Even if you don’t possess bolting speed over 100 meters, your acceleration can be a critical technique in your arsenal, allowing you to create separation from your marker and make runs into space.

In fact, your acceleration can be a more valuable asset than pure pace, as it enables you to gain momentum quickly and make explosive runs down the wings.

This is particularly useful when you receive the ball in a congested area, as you can accelerate quickly and leave your marker behind, creating space and opportunities for yourself and your team.

However, like with speed, acceleration alone is not enough to make you a successful winger.

You must also have good technical skills, such as dribbling, crossing, and shooting, as well as tactical awareness to make intelligent runs and create scoring opportunities.

• Dribbling Skill

While being quick is certainly advantageous, it’s not the only major key that makes a great winger.

Dribbling past opponents is another effective way to create space and set up scoring opportunities.

In particular, if you’re an agile winger, you can cause big, and immobile defenders a lot of trouble. By using your quick footwork and change of direction, you can create gaps in the defense and find openings to take shots or make crosses.

Dribbling also allows you to hold onto the ball for longer and draw defenders toward you, creating space for your teammates to exploit.

To become an effective dribbler, you need to master a range of skills.

This includes close control of the ball, quick and precise changes of direction, and the ability to shield the ball from defenders.

You should also work on developing a repertoire of moves and fakes, such as the step-over, the nutmeg, or the feint, to keep defenders guessing and off balance.

• Positioning

One quality that you might have overlooked when playing soccer is good positioning.

This skill can be the difference-maker and give you an advantage over your opponent when facing a marker. By positioning yourself in the right place on the field, you can create space for yourself, receive the ball more easily, and make better passes.

Your positioning can also help you anticipate the movements of your teammates and opponents, allowing you to make better decisions on the fly.

You need to understand that positioning isn’t just about staying in one spot – it’s about constantly adjusting your position based on the movements of the ball and the players around you.

By mastering this skill, you can become a more effective and valuable player on the field.

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TrackBack & Drop Deep

You need more than just body feints, leg-overs, bolting speeds, and impressive crosses.

It’s important to remember that you also need to have defensive responsibilities and must track back quickly after moving forward.

Besides helping out on defense, tracking back can also be a strategic move for launching attacks. Dropping deep to collect the ball and run at defenders, or make runs in behind to create scoring opportunities.

Adding spices to your game and looking for overlapping runs can make you a more unpredictable and dangerous winger.

By using your space effectively and making smart decisions, you can continue to develop your skills and become an even more valuable asset to your team.

Drills To Help Become A Better Winger

Wrapping it up

You now have a better understanding of how to improve your performance as a soccer winger.

There are various ways to improve your skills and become a proficient player, whether you are a novice or an expert in this position.

The flank is an important position that can have a big impact on the game’s outcome. By performing your wing duties perfectly, you can help your team secure victories and create more scoring opportunities.