close
LOGINYou are viewing 1 of 1 free articles
Finishing off attacks
Scoring goals is one of the key aims of football. This technical session works on finishing and movement. It gets players shooting from both sides of the penalty area and from the centre.
What this session is about
- Scoring goals from all angles.
- Moving into attacking positions.
- Support.
- Shooting from different angles.
What to think about
Players must consider:
- Accuracy of their shots.
- Where to run and when.
- Shooting with either foot.
- Accurately crossing to target players.
- Where to target the shot? Across the goalkeeper/ near to the corner/high or low?
- When it comes to shooting, good technique can achieve better results than rushing the shot.
Set-up
| Warm up | Session | Development | Game Situation | Warm Down |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 minutes | 15 minutes | 15 minutes | 10 minutes | 10 minutes |
What you get your players to do
Use the final third of a pitch. Create three teams (A, B and C) of three players facing the goal – one at each side of the box and the other in the middle. Add cones in front of team C.
The first player in team A receives a pass (1) from a server (S) on the side of the pitch and shoots at goal, as shown in the top picture. He then receives another ball and passes to the first player in team B (2) who shoots at goal. A and B return to the front of their queues ready to move for a cross.
Next, the first player in team C dribbles through the cones and shoots, then runs around the back of team B and down the wing, as shown in the middle picture.
On his shot, the first players in teams A and B run across the penalty area to the near and far post ready to shoot at goal from a cross. The player on the wing from team C crosses the ball to either post, as shown in the bottom picture. After this move, player A goes to the back of line B, B goes to the back of line C and C joins the backs of line A.
The exercise continues in the same way with new players at the front.
Play at high intensity for four sessions of three minutes with one minute’s rest between each.
See how many goals the team can score in each session. Try to beat the score each time.
Development
You can make the session more realistic by adding defenders.
Take two of the players and put them beside the goal posts. They take it in turns to try and stop the initial shots from A, B and C in 1v1 battles.
Defenders must be in the penalty area to try and beat the attacker to the cross.
Related Files
Game situation
Set up an area 40 yards long by 30 yards wide and play a five-a-side game, including goalkeepers.
Encourage repetition of the session with good technique for finishing and movement to create space and be in the right place to receive the ball.
Encourage wing play so you can see whether your players have learned from the session.
The team that scores most goals wins.
Latest Issue
Subscribe Today
Subscriber Testimonials
Gerald Kearney, Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club
Paul Butler, Florida, USA
Rick Shields, Springboro, USA
Tony Green, Pierrefonds Titans, Quebec, Canada
Subscribe Today
Newsletter Sign Up
Coaches Testimonials
Gerald Kearney, Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club
Paul Butler, Florida, USA
Rick Shields, Springboro, USA
Tony Green, Pierrefonds Titans, Quebec, Canada
Subscribe Today
Latest Issue
Discover the simple way to become a more effective, more successful soccer coach
In a recent survey 89% of subscribers said Soccer Coach Weekly makes them more confident, 91% said Soccer Coach Weekly makes them a more effective coach and 93% said Soccer Coach Weekly makes them more inspired.
*includes 3 coaching manuals
Get Weekly Inspiration
All the latest techniques and approaches
Soccer Coach Weekly offers proven and easy to use soccer drills, coaching sessions, practice plans, small-sided games, warm-ups, training tips and advice.
We've been at the cutting edge of soccer coaching since we launched in 2007, creating resources for the grassroots youth coach, following best practice from around the world and insights from the professional game.
