1 v 1 Finishing Session

 Coaching points:

• Create space with feints and turns
• When striking the ball keep your head down and knee over the ball - kick through the ball
• Use team mates around you for give and goes
• Communication 

Warm Up

This exercise takes place in an area of 20 x 20 with a 5 yard end zone which contains two goals. The striker (blue) starts with the ball and is positioned a couple of feet in front of the defender (red). The striker will play the ball into the coach (green) then immediately follow his pass for the return, at the same time the defender will rush out to defend.

From here it is simply 1 v 1, with the striker looking to get past the defender and into the end zone to finish into 1 of the 2 goals. 

If the defender wins the ball he can score into either goal. 

Main Drill

For this drill, have 2 teams (red v blue) with both teams behind a cone and the players numbered 1 to 4. The coach will start the drill by passing the ball into the playing area and calling out a number, the corresponding blue and red player will come out and play 1 v 1. The aim is to find space and try in score into one of the opposing teams goals. 

Progress the drill by calling more than 1 number and creating 2 v 2s and 3 v 3s etc.

Dimensions: 25 x 25 yards

Conditioned Game

In a playing area of 30x25 create a 5 yard scoring zone at each end with 3 goals. The teams play 4v4 and can only score when they get into the opposing teams scoring zone (defenders can follow attackers into the scoring zones to prevent goals). 

Progressions: 

Teams now must score outside the scoring zone

1 touch finish

2 touch open play and 1 touch finish

Quick recap - When 1 v 1 to goal create space with change of direction and change of pass then look to get your shot away early, low and hard, into a corner away from the goalkeeper - be alive for rebounds. 

Questions about this drill, find me on Twitter: @DavidBairdSc