Shooting and finishing ยท U8 to adult

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 adultAges
6 to 16 plus a keeperPlayers
30 x 25 m to goalArea
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.

Set-up

  • Attacker and defender start side by side (or the defender a yard behind) 25 metres out.
  • Coach behind them with balls; keeper in goal.

Equipment: Goal, cones, balls

How it works

  1. Coach plays the ball forward into space.
  2. Both sprint; attacker tries to shoot before the defender gets there.
  3. Defender wins it and dribbles over the halfway line for a point.

Coaching points

  • Attacker: get your body between the defender and the ball.
  • Shoot early, before the defender recovers.
  • Defender: recover goal-side, don't dive in from behind.

Add this drill to a session plan โ†’

Make it easier

  • Defender starts further back
  • Bigger goal

Make it harder

  • Start lying down or facing away
  • Two attackers v one defender

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

Questions about this drill?

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