Gafferbook
Shooting and finishing ยท U11 to adult

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 adultAges
6 to 12 plus a keeperPlayers
Edge of the boxArea
10 to 15 minsTime

Your assistant coach: turn this drill into a full session, plan the weeks around it and tell me how it went.

โž• Put it in tonight's session๐Ÿ—“ Build my season around itโœ๏ธ Make my own version

Set-up

  • Target striker on the edge of the box facing away from goal.
  • Midfielders queue 25 metres out with balls; keeper in goal.

Equipment: Goal, cones, balls

How it works

  1. Midfielder passes firmly into the striker's feet.
  2. Striker sets it back into the midfielder's path.
  3. Midfielder shoots first time; striker spins to follow in for the rebound.

Coaching points

  • Striker: show for it, soft lay-off into the path.
  • Midfielder: arrive at speed, strike through the middle of the ball.
  • Striker spins and follows in.

Add this drill to a session plan โ†’

Make it easier

  • Allow a touch before the shot
  • Lay-off stopped dead

Make it harder

  • Defender on the striker's back
  • Lay off either side; shooter reads it

AttackersDefendersKeeper / neutral- - โ†’ Passโ†’ Runใ€ฐโ†’ Dribble

Questions about this drill?

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