When crossing 2 or more players will cross each other's running paths and during that receive the ball. The purpose is to force the defenders to stand close or take over another attacker. When the defenders are standing close it creates room on the outside, which creates shooting solutions. In order to make a cross effective is that the attackers show the defenders, that they will shot at goal. That means that the player, who starts the cross must run slantwise against the defense with a shown intention to shoot - at best getting physical contact with the defense - in order to pull the defender along to the side. The crossing player must then arrive close behind the 1st player, receive the ball and break through close to the moving defender.

One of the most common errors performing a cross is, that the 1st crossing player clearly show the defense, that she is the first part of a cross and has no intention to shoot (she looks at her teammate, turns her body against her teammate, her shooting arm indicates a pass to the teammate, does not seek contact with the defense)

Another error is that the cross is made parallel to the defense (unless part of a system) or in too great a distance of the defense.

Main rules:

1.	The first player must act as one who intents to shot at goal.
2.	The cross must be made close to the defense. If a cross is performed on the other side of the free-throw line it is more a change of positions between the attackers than an actual attack cross and the defense has a lot of time to prepare itself.
3.	The cross must be made against the defense. Many times the crosses are made more sideways than direct, which means that the defense gets time to readjust.
4.	The 2nd crossing player must always be in full speed behind the 1st crossing player and receive the ball with a sideway pass or backward pass.

All positions can participate in a cross and the crossing players do not have to be neighbors (outer backcourt and center backcourt)

If the crossing is a part of an attack system, where the crosses are used to move the defense or create attention the above mentioned can be disregarded.

Using crosses are especially effective against opponents, who are slow in their sideway movements.