Shooting drills
More shots, less queuing. These finishing practices keep everyone busy and your keepers working.
Good shooting drills give players lots of shots from realistic positions, with a goalkeeper, quick turnarounds and some pressure. Keep queues short: two or three goals and plenty of balls.
Receive, turn and shoot
A server plays into a striker with their back to goal; the striker turns and shoots. Quick turnarounds and plenty of shots.
U9 to U16 · 6 to 10 plus a keeper players · 15 mins
See the drill →Two-goal finishing game
Two teams, two goals, two keepers, short pitch. The coach plays balls in fast so every player gets shots every minute.
U8 to U14 · 8 to 12 plus 2 keepers players · 15 mins
See the drill →Cross and finish: near post, far post
Wide players dribble down the channel and cross while two strikers attack near and far post. Finishing from crosses, with clear runs that young players can remember.
U10 to adult · 8 to 14 plus a keeper players · 15 to 20 mins
See the drill →Striker movement: check away, then go
Strikers practise the movements that create a yard of space: check away and come short, or show short and spin in behind, then finish first time.
U10 to adult · 4 to 10 plus a keeper players · 12 to 15 mins
See the drill →One-two and shoot
Players play a one-two with a wall player on the edge of the box and finish first time or after one touch. Combines passing, timing and shooting.
U9 to adult · 6 to 14 plus a keeper players · 15 mins
See the drill →Shoot and follow in for rebounds
Shoot from the edge of the box, then follow in for the rebound the coach or keeper plays loose. Builds the habit every striker needs: never admire your shot.
U8 to adult · 6 to 14 plus a keeper players · 10 to 15 mins
See the drill →Volleys from a hand-feed
A partner tosses the ball up and the shooter volleys at goal. A simple, safe way to practise clean contact on volleys and half-volleys.
U10 to adult · Pairs plus a keeper players · 10 mins
See the drill →Long-range shooting game
A small-sided game where goals only count from outside a shooting line, and rebounds can be tapped in. Encourages players to shoot early and teammates to follow in.
U11 to adult · 8 to 14 plus 2 keepers players · 15 mins
See the drill →Through-ball and finish one-on-one
A midfielder slides a pass through for a striker to run on to and finish one-on-one with the keeper. Practises timing runs, the weight of the pass and composure in front of goal.
U10 to adult · 6 to 14 plus a keeper players · 15 mins
See the drill →World Cup finishing game
Pairs (each a 'country') compete to score in a busy box; once you score you're through to the next round, and the last pair each round is out. Endless shots, rebounds and fun.
U7 to U14 · 6 to 16 plus a keeper players · 15 mins
See the drill →Penalty targets
Players take penalties at target zones in the corners of the goal, with points for accuracy. Great for building a calm, repeatable penalty routine, with or without a keeper.
U8 to adult · 4 to 16 players · 10 mins
See the drill →Cut inside and shoot
Wide players dribble at a cone defender, cut inside onto their stronger foot and shoot across the keeper. A favourite for wingers and inside forwards.
U10 to adult · 6 to 12 plus a keeper players · 15 mins
See the drill →Far-post finishing from wide
A wide player drives a low ball across the six-yard box and a runner arrives at the far post to finish. Teaches timing runs and the low cross that's hardest to defend.
U10 to adult · 6 to 14 plus a keeper players · 15 mins
See the drill →2v1 attack and finish
Two attackers take on one defender and try to score. Simple decisions: dribble if the defender doesn't commit, pass if they do, then finish.
U8 to adult · 6 to 15 plus a keeper players · 15 mins
See the drill →Race the defender and shoot
The coach plays a ball towards goal and an attacker and defender race for it from different starts. Finishing under real pressure, and great for recovery runs too.
U8 to adult · 6 to 16 plus a keeper players · 10 to 15 mins
See the drill →Lay-off and first-time finish
A striker with their back to goal lays the ball off and a midfielder arrives to strike first time. Practises link-up play and arriving late in the box.
U11 to adult · 6 to 12 plus a keeper players · 10 to 15 mins
See the drill →Dribble through a gate and shoot
Players dribble at speed through one of two gates and shoot before the edge of the box. Simple, high-repetition finishing for younger groups.
U7 to U14 · 6 to 14 plus a keeper players · 10 mins
See the drill →Finishing circuit (three stations)
Three quick finishing stations: a first-time strike, a turn and shoot, and a finish from a cut-back. Lots of variety in a short time.
U10 to adult · 9 to 15 plus 2 keepers players · 15 to 20 mins
See the drill →Pass it into the net (side-foot placement)
From inside the box, players pass the ball into the bottom corners with the side of the foot. Teaches that placement beats power close to goal.
U8 to adult · 6 to 14 plus a keeper players · 10 mins
See the drill →Receive side-on and shoot
A pass comes in from the side and the shooter receives side-on so they can shoot with their second touch. Teaches body shape for quick shooting.
U10 to adult · 6 to 12 plus a keeper players · 10 to 15 mins
See the drill →Knockout shooting game
Players take turns to shoot; if you miss, you must score your own rebound before the next player scores, or you're knocked out. A famous playground game with plenty of shooting.
U7 to U13 · 6 to 16 plus a keeper players · 10 to 15 mins
See the drill →Weak-foot finishing from angles
Players finish from set angles on their weaker side, building confidence to shoot with both feet. Players who can finish with either foot are far harder to defend.
U9 to adult · 6 to 12 plus a keeper players · 10 mins
See the drill →Turn and shoot 2v2 box
A tight 2v2 between two goals where you can shoot from anywhere. Players learn to turn quickly and shoot early in small spaces.
U10 to adult · 8 plus 2 keepers players · 15 mins
See the drill →Chip finishes over the keeper
Attackers dribble in and chip the ball over a keeper who comes off their line. Teaches the calm, clever finish for when the keeper commits early.
U11 to adult · 6 to 12 plus a keeper players · 10 mins
See the drill →Cut-back finishing (pull-back to the spot)
A wide player drives to the byline and pulls the ball back for a runner arriving at the penalty spot. One of the most productive chances in football.
U11 to adult · 6 to 14 plus a keeper players · 15 mins
See the drill →Tight-angle finishing
Players dribble in from a wide, tight angle and choose: near post, far post, or cut it back. Teaches decisions and composure when the angle is small.
U10 to adult · 6 to 12 plus a keeper players · 10 mins
See the drill →Rapid-fire shooting
A shooter strikes three balls in quick succession from three positions as the coach rolls them. Fast, sharp and tests the keeper too.
U9 to adult · 4 to 12 plus a keeper players · 10 mins
See the drill →Free-kick practice with a cone wall
Players practise striking free-kicks over or around a cone 'wall'. Builds technique for one of the few chances you can rehearse exactly.
U12 to adult · 4 to 10 plus a keeper players · 10 mins
See the drill →Run-in shoot-out (8 seconds)
Players dribble from 25 metres and have 8 seconds to score against the keeper. Like a penalty shoot-out, but with the decisions of a real breakaway.
U9 to adult · 4 to 16 plus a keeper players · 10 mins
See the drill →Near-post finishing from crosses
Strikers attack the near post to flick or volley in low crosses. Teaches the near-post run that beats defenders to the ball.
U11 to adult · 6 to 14 plus a keeper players · 10 to 15 mins
See the drill →Three-ball combinations to shoot
Each rep has three balls: a one-two finish, a lay-off and shot, then a cross to finish. Lots of quality shots in a short time, all from realistic combinations.
U10 to adult · 4 to 8 plus a keeper players · 15 mins
See the drill →Create in the pocket and finish
A midfielder dribbles into the space just outside the box, plays a quick combination, shoots, then keeps running to attack a cross. Teaches midfielders to arrive in scoring areas.
U11 to adult · 4 to 8 plus a keeper players · 12 mins
See the drill →Overlap, cross and finish
Wide player and full-back combine with an overlap; the cross is attacked by two forwards making near- and far-post runs. A complete attacking pattern to finish a session.
U10 to adult · 5 to 10 plus a keeper players · 15 mins
See the drill →2v1 to goal in waves
Pairs attack a single defender and finish. Teaches when to pass and when to dribble, the most important decision in attacking football.
U8 to adult · 6 to 12 plus a keeper players · 12 mins
See the drill →Building a session?
Tell the free session planner your age group, numbers and what to work on, and it builds a full session from drills like these.
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