Hold off a defender and shoot
in Core Skills, Practice plans, Shooting
This drill improves the ability to cope with the pressure of having a defender breathing down your neck when through on goal with only the keeper to beat. MORE
The finishing square
in Advanced Skills, Practice plans, Shooting
The practices in this session are designed to improve the movement of the centre forward when receiving the ball and the awareness of midfielders to make an accurate forward pass and then support this pass with a forward run. MORE
Safe hands and safe feet
in Advanced Skills, Goalkeeping, Practice plans
The ability to deal with balls that come to the goalkeeper from all angles is one of the most important parts of a goalkeeper’s game. It relies on positioning, technique and good decision making. Most importantly, keepers need to be good with their feet as well as their hands. MORE
The instant shot
in Core Skills, Practice plans, Shooting
Striking the ball first time at goal requires good service, timing and technique. With benefits including reducing the amount of time keepers have to prepare themselves, it’s worth giving it a shot. MORE
Create space to shoot
in Core Skills, Practice plans, Shooting
It’s not always necessary for an attacker to go past a defender in order to shoot – sometimes a trick or a feint creates enough space to get a strike at the target. MORE
Playing with your back to goal
in Advanced Skills, Attacking, Practice plans
This practice improves attackers' understanding and skills with their backs to goal. MORE
Defend together
in Advanced Skills, Defending, Practice plans
Improve your team’s ability to defend when under constant pressure from opposition attacks. Remember that when your rivals don’t have the ball, they can’t score a goal. MORE
First-time shooting
in Core Skills, Practice plans, Shooting
Catch goalkeepers unaware by getting your players to shoot with their first touch. MORE
Line drills
in Advanced Skills, Attacking, Practice plans
1v1 Split your players into two teams. To “score a goal” the attacking player must dribble past the defender and into the “end zone”. Encourage the attacking player to perform a variety of feints before powerfully accelerating with the ball into space. Give each team a turn at attacking, the team with the most “goals” wins. MORE
Receive a square pass and shoot
in Core Skills, Practice plans, Shooting
Shooting from a square pass is a difficult skill for young players to master, but this activity will help you teach them in a variety of situations. MORE
Diagonal run and shot
in Core Skills, Practice plans, Shooting
Even the best defences will be breached if your forwards make diagonal runs from wide and receive a well-timed through pass. This shooting drill will help your players perfect their timing when making diagonal runs and getting a shot at goal. MORE
Olé football
in Advanced Skills, Passing, Practice plans
Spain and Barcelona mesmerise their opponents when in possession of the ball. Improve your players’ composure when they have the ball to emulate the Spanish. This session will help your players retain possession and if the opposition do not have the ball, they cannot score any goals. MORE
Shoot on sight
in Core Skills, Practice plans, Shooting
A snap shot at goal can be the difference between two teams on match day. When the chance to shoot arises, your players need to take advantage of the opportunity. MORE
The goal poacher
in Advanced Skills, Practice plans, Shooting
This week’s session is designed to improve your players’ ability to score goals inside the penalty area. The term “goal poacher” describes a player who is desperate to score goals and is constantly looking to get a toe, foot or head on the ball to do so. MORE
Quick turning to shoot
in Advanced Skills, Practice plans, Shooting
This session is designed to improve your players’ turning in and around the penalty area. The aim for the forward is to get a quick shot at goal and catch the goalkeeper by surprise. MORE
Crossing and finishing
in Attacking, Core Skills, Practice plans
This simple drill will help younger players to start thinking about coordinating the timing of a cross with a team mate’s run towards goal. MORE
High and low striker
in Advanced Skills, Attacking, Practice plans
This practice shows the advantage of forwards playing off each other and develops combinations with the wide midfielders. MORE
From defence to attack
in Attacking, Core Skills, Practice plans
Prime your team to go for goal as soon as possession is regained because that’s when opposition defenders are least prepared and so most vulnerable to attack. MORE
Between the lines
in Advanced Skills, Attacking, Practice plans
This session is designed to improve playing between the lines. This means getting players and passes into the spaces created by the opponent’s chosen formation. MORE
Preventing penetration
in Core Skills, Defending, Practice plans
This drill reinforces the basic principles of two-player defending. It is ideal for coaching your players to close down space, provide cover and force the play in one direction. MORE
“Pull!”
in Core Skills, Practice plans, Shooting
Recreate the thrill of a clay-pigeon shoot as your strikers call for the ball to be pulled back before despatching it into the net. Can they keep a cool head and finish with accuracy? MORE
Leading the charge
in Advanced Skills, Passing, Practice plans
This session is designed to improve forward passing and supporting runs which give options to the player in possession of the ball. MORE
The midfield screen
in Core Skills, Midfield, Practice plans
The midfield screen is a defensive line, shielding defenders from penetrating through balls and 1v1 situations. Use this session to get your midfield working as a unit to give the defenders behind them some protection. MORE
Counter attacking
in Advanced Skills, Attacking, Practice plans
The ability to invite pressure on your defence then launch a rapid counter can devastate your opponents. MORE
