How to Improve as a Left Winger for Soccer
How to Get Better as a Left Winger
As a full-time academy and private soccer trainer, I’ve seen the left winger position evolve into one of the most exciting and dynamic roles on the field at all age levels.
Left: With Rivaldo for FCC 5v5 match in Orlando FL. Rivaldo won the World Cup, Ballon D’or and countless other trophies for club and country. Sometimes, he lined up at left wing and his skill for the game was undeniable.
A left winger isn’t just hugging the touchline; you’re expected to stretch defenses, create scoring chances, and counter press to help defensively. Whether you’re a player, a parent cheering from the sidelines, or a coach helping players improve, here’s how to become an unstoppable force on the left wing. 🌟
Why Training with a Team is Key
The left wing role thrives on cohesion, and training with your team helps you understand your role in relation to others. Here’s what to focus on:
Master Wide Play: Work on receiving the ball close to the touchline and attacking 1v1 against defenders. In team drills, practice beating your marker with pace, skill moves, or clever changes of direction. Pro tip: Learn when to stay wide to stretch the defense and when to cut inside like a prime Neymar. ✂️
Perfect Your Crossing: Great left wingers can whip in deadly crosses. During training, practice delivering crosses to different zones (near post, penalty spot, far post). Coordinate with your striker and opposite winger so you know their movement patterns. If your not left footed, work to improve your left footed crossing from the endline even with a static ball, as well as cutting back to whip in right footed crosses on your preferred foot.
Link with the Fullback: The left winger and left back are a dynamic duo. Work on overlapping and underlapping runs in team drills. Communication is critical—let your fullback know when you’re cutting inside or staying wide.
Contribute Defensively: A good winger’s job isn’t just attacking. Practice tracking back to help your fullback and midfielders in defensive transitions when necessary. Team drills focusing on defensive shape will help you understand when and how to press.
Solo Training Tips for Left Wingers
If you’re training alone, don’t worry—you can still level up your game. Focus on these technical aspects:
Improve Dribbling and Ball Control: Set up cones or markers to simulate defenders and practice dribbling at speed. Use scissors, stepovers, and body feints to mimic in-game moves. In the above video, I use BlazePods during the session to add scanning in towards goal and having my eyes up when dribbling at pressure. The randomized setting allows me to create situation where I have to make split second decisions and execute skill. For example, I scan before receiving and see ‘green’ I cut in to goal, but if I see blue’ I’m going up the line. I’m simulating how the space or opportunity may look in the make by using the light as a guide. This is super helpful for making training more realistic, demanding, and rewarding when training alone. Check out Blazepod here: https://blazepod.com/daniel-diveny
Bonus: Pretend you’re playing against your rival and celebrate every time you get by them. 🎉Work on Shooting from the Left: Cutting inside and taking shots is a key weapon for a left winger. Practice curling shots into the far corner with your right foot and near-post drives with your left. Target accuracy first, then add power. Whether solo or with a keeper, practice from closer range at first, keep in mind, most of all goals are scoring from inside the penalty box.
Cross Like a Pro: Use a wall or target net to practice your crossing. Focus on varying your crosses—low-driven, lofted, and whipped—to keep defenders guessing. Imagine your striker thanking you after every assist. 🙌
Strengthen Your Weak Foot: Don’t be a one-trick pony! Spend time working on your weaker foot by dribbling, passing, and shooting. A two-footed winger is a nightmare for defenders. 🌀 At the same time, use your dominate foot to your strengths during match play. If you’re better at cutting in to shoot or create plays, look for more opportunities to do so rather than left footed crosses unless it goes specifically against the team’s/coach’s tactics and instructions.
Boost Speed and Stamina: Speed kills in the winger position. Incorporate sprint drills, agility exercises, and interval runs to replicate game situations. The role demands a lot of running, so build up your endurance too. This point could honestly be number 1 on the list. Watch any of the best winger players. THEY. ARE. FAST.
Study the Best Left Wingers
Watch players like Sadio Mané, Vinícius Jr., Mo Salah, or Heung-Min Son in action. Pay attention to how they exploit space, time their runs, and make decisions in tight situations. You can learn a lot by watching their movement and creativity. Don’t just look up highlights or goals. Type in your preferred players name and add “full match” into youtube. Watch what they do off the ball, where and how they take their first touch, etc.
For Parents and Trainers
Parents, encourage your left winger to experiment with different techniques and play styles. Support their training with positive reinforcement—even if their crosses land on the neighbor’s roof now and then. Trainers, design drills that replicate real game situations, like 1v1 scenarios, creating quick separation from defender to cross, or quick transitions from defense to attack.
Final Thoughts
The left winger position is one of the most thrilling roles on the field. Whether you’re training with a team or solo, focus on technical excellence, tactical awareness, and physical speed and quickness. With hard work and a love for the game, you’ll be flying down the wing and creating chaos for defenders in no time. ⚽🔥