Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Finishing with accuracy

Warm - up technical instruction

Timing: 20 minutes

Purpose: allow players to learn and practice basic techniques of finishing

Area size:

15 side to side

24 end to end split into 10-4-10 metre zone

Large goals at each end. 

Action:

First player of one team dribbles to scoring zone and shoots, gets his ball then returns to starting line

First player of orther team does the same thing but toward other end

Change starting point from left and right of goals and ensure players have equal reps on both feet

In the beginning, work on a pass into the net, then a curling finish, then a power finish.  

Pass into net:

Identify target - be very specific  

Select surface of foot you want to use to strike the ball

Plant non-striking foot next to the ball pointing in the direction of where the ball should go.  

Slight bend in knee on non-striking leg  

Upper body over the ball

Use arms for balance

Lock ankle of striking foot

Eyes on ball just prior to striking it

Strike the cente of the ball on or very slightly below the centre

Follow through direct and straight toward target

Curling finish:

Identify target

Approach the ball from an angle (up to 45 degrees) to get around the ball

Planted foot next to ball, pointing in direction of where ball should travel, slight bend in knee.

Use mid / lower instep to maximise contact area with the ball to generate spin

Connect with the ball on the side

Twist hips to generate spin

Follow through - striking leg wraps across body and hips continue to twist

Striking foot lands across from planted foot or hop off planted foot on to striking foot

Whip opposite arm across body to help create more twist  

To get the ball off the ground and add spin to make it dip:

- connect below the centre

- Flex foot up to add top spin

Straight run up, 3 - 4 long strides 

Planted foot points toward target, slight bend in knee, engage quad 

Maximum backswing on striking foot, flex knee 

Keep chest over the ball 

Use instep to strike the ball 

Strike centre of the ball 

Lock the ankle, keep it firm  

Follow though toward the target. Stay on planted foot or hop on to striking foot 

Common mistakes to observe for and correct:

Striking wrong part of the ball - too high or too low

Leaning back

Poor approach to the ball - approach to ball doesn't supports type of shot selected

Bad foot mechanics, e.g. using toes / lower instep, floppy, soft ankle, and toes pointing up.  

Trying to use too much power with poor technique

Shot selection - using the incorrect finish, e.g. power when a pass or culring shot would suffice

Transition to speed drill which uses the same layout.  

Small group play

Timing: 15 minutes

Purpose: add game pressure to allow players to practice different techniques of finishing under realitstic game pressure

Area size:

15 side to side

24 end to end split into 10-4-10 metre zone

Large goals with a keeper or 2 mini goals at each end.  

2 teams of 4 - 5 players. 

For muti-level groups, split teams by development level (A and B as shown).   

Action:  

Players play a 2v2 or 3v3 shooting game

Coach serves ball in

Team A from red and blue team enter at the same time.  

Teams compete for the ball and seek to score as quickly as possible.  

Coach can change teams every time a goal is scored / shot is taken or keep serving balls in and whistle to change teams.  

When coach blows the whistle, both team As come off the pitch and both team Bs enter.  Keep teams of same level to ensure competition and challenge for all players.  

Encourage players to use 3 ways to score: 

- Pass into net

- Curling shot 

- Power 

Coach the mechanics of each (see coaching points earlier) throughout the practice.

Coach selection of finish.  When to use each?

Regress to a 2v1 or 3v2 if players aren't getting enough of different types of shots off.

End the practice (final 5 minutes) by recapping the technical coaching points of the 3 types of finish.