Crossings are made to create unbalance on the defenders and are normally made by 2 backcourt players (se LB/RB cross and center cross) or a backcourt player and a wing (see wing/backcourt cross).
However the CR can also be included in a cross (See CR cross).

The cross is for example performed by 1. player (CB) with the ball runs against or sideway on the defending RB and indicates, that a shot will be taken.
The defending CB will follow in order to block this attack.
Now LB player crosses behind CB, receives the ball slantly backward from CB and if the defenders do not react quickly enough a shooting solution may occur at the position where the defending CB should have been.

A cross looks simple, but a lot of training is required if it shall be effective.
Especially the pass slantly backwards is difficult to perform correctly.
It must be precise and not too hard.
As the attack is made by the player who is crossing behind the 1st player must be lightning fast and the timing must be precisely.
If the running in is started too early or too late, the pass backwards will be very difficult to perform correctly and the surprise in the attack will be lost.

When playing with crosses the play tends to be sideways - that is the attacking player moves parallel with the defense - and by doing this he/she is not actually dangerous and the defending player can concentrate on the crossing player.
By this the aimed space for the crossing player will not be achieved.
However if the space is achieved the crossing player has 2 possibilities; Breaking through or a (jump)shot.

Crosses can also be used as a build up for an attack combination - for instance to make the defense believe that the cross is the actual attack and "forget" a running in wing.

The exercises in this section are about different cross exercises, which are not so much ruled by a certain position on the court.