WORLD CLASS COACHING
40 Shooting and Finishing Exercises
By Luca Bertolini
Table of Contents
PART THREE
Shooting and Finishing Sequences
Shooting and finishing sequences (all players rotate clockwise their positions, when the sequences end)
Exercise 16: 1 touch and 2 touches shots (1)
Set-up and Sequence: 1 rectangular area is marked and 2 goals with goalkeepers are placed along the shorter sides. 3 groups of players are placed as in the picture: 2 groups on the corners of 1 side and the third one in the middle of the longer opposite side. The players of the third group are those who shoot on goal.
The first sequence (1) requires the player to run toward the passing direction from the upper cone to shoot with 1 touch, with the nearest foot to the ball. In the second sequence (2), the player is asked to turn and to control the ball that is passed from the lower corner before shooting. The sequences must be performed on both the sides, to allow the players to shoot with both feet.
Variation: pass the ball to allow headers as finishing touches.
Eye on: good body shape on the ball to control the pass and to shot.
Exercise 17: 1 touch and 2 touches shots (2)
Set-up and Sequence: this is a variation of the previous practice. 3 groups of players are placed as in the picture: 2 groups on the corners of 1 side and the third one in the middle of the longer opposite side. The players of the third group are those who shoot on goal. 2 more players are on the corners of the same side of the third group.
The first sequence (1) requires the player to run toward the passing direction from the upper cone. He receives and plays a 1 touch wall pass combination with the opposite teammate, before shooting with the nearest foot to the ball. In the second sequence (2) the player is asked to turn, control the ball that is passed from the lower corner and to play a 1 - 2 single touch triangle combination with the opposite teammate, before shooting after the ball control.
The sequences must be performed on both the sides, to allow the players to shoot with both feet.
Variation: play back passes to allow headers as finishing touches.
Eye on: good body shape on the ball to control, 1 touch passing combinations, and shots with 1 or 2 touches.
Exercise 18: Triple shooting sequence
Set-up and Sequence: 1 rectangular area is marked and 2 goals with goalkeepers are placed along the shorter sides. 3 groups of players in possession are placed as in the picture: 2 groups on the corners of 1 side and the third one in the middle of the longer opposite sideline. 2 more players are on the corners of the same side of the third group. The shooting players start from the middle of the left line of the set-up.
The first sequence (1) requires the player to run toward the passing direction from the opposite side and along the supposed middle line of the set up. He receives, controls the ball on the left (or on the right) before shooting with the other foot.
In the second sequence (2), the player is asked to turn, to receive a pass from one side and switch the play toward the opposite corner, to play a single touch wall passing combination with the opposite teammate, before shooting on goal with the nearest foot to the ball.
The third sequence (3) asks the player to change the goal again and to shoot with 1 touch toward the second pole of the goal. The sequences must be performed on both the sides to allow the players shooting with both feet.
Variation: play back passes to allow headers as finishing touches.
Eye on: good body shape on the ball to control, to turn without losing the ball, to play passing combinations and to shoot.
Exercise 19: 1 touch and 2 touches shots under opposition pressure
Set-up and Sequence: 1 rectangular area is marked and 2 goals with goalkeepers are placed along the shorter sides. 2 groups of players in possession are placed as in the picture: 1 group on the lower left corner and the second one in the middle of the longer opposite side. 2 more players are on the corners of the upper shorter side. The shooting players start from the middle of the left line of the set-up. Another group of players is placed on the right lower corner, as support for the second sequence.
The first sequence (1) requires the player to run toward the passing direction from the opposite side and along the supposed middle line of the set up. He receives, controls the ball on the left before choosing a teammate to play a wall passing combination with (the right one in the picture), before shooting with the other foot. The other player on the upper corner becomes defender.
In the second sequence (2) the player is asked to turn, to receive a pass from one side and switch the play toward the opposite corner, to play a single touch wall passing combination with the opposite teammate, before shooting on goal with the nearest foot to the ball. He is always under the full pressure of the defender.
If the defender wins the ball, he can shoot toward the opposite goal. The sequences must be performed on both the sides, to allow the players shooting with both feet.
Variation: play back passes to allow headers as finishing touches.
Eye on: good body shape on the ball to control, to play passing combinations and to shoot under pressure. Counter the opponent to win the ball, quick player transitions.
Exercise 20: 1 touch shots under opposition pressure
Set-up and Sequence: this is a variation of the previous practice. 2 groups of players in possession are placed as in the picture: 1 group on the lower left corner and the second one in the middle of the longer opposite side. 2 more players are on the corners of the upper shorter side. 2 goals with goalkeepers are placed along the shorter sides. The shooting players start from the middle of the left line of the set-up. Another group of players is placed on the right lower corner, who will be defenders during the second sequence.
The first sequence (1) requires the player to run toward the passing direction from the opposite side and along the supposed middle line of the set up; he receives, controls the ball on the left before choosing teammate to play a wall passing combination with (the right one in the picture), before shooting with the other foot. The other player on the upper corner becomes defender.
In the second sequence (2) the player is asked to turn, to receive a pass from one side and switch the side toward the opposite corner to play a single touch wall passing combination with the opposite teammate, before shooting on goal with the nearest foot to the ball. He is always under the full pressure of the first defender since the beginning of this phase; a second defender runs toward him from the opposite corner to double the mark on him.
If the defenders win the ball, they can shoot toward the opposite goal, depending on the sequence.
The sequences must be performed on both the sides to allow the players to shoot with both feet.
Variation: play back passes to allow headers as finishing touches.
Eye on: good body shape on the ball to control, to play passing combinations and to shoot under pressure, quick finishing to avoid the double mark. Counter the opponent to win the ball, quick player transitions.
Exercise 21: 1 touch and 3rd man simultaneous shooting at speed
Set-up and Sequence: the letters A and B indicate 2 groups of players. The players in possession in group A are placed in the middle of the longer left side and those of the group are placed on the upper left corner. The other players of the group A are placed on the left lower and right upper corners; the rest of the group B is on the lower right corner and in the middle of the right side. 2 goals with goalkeepers are placed along the shorter sides of the set-up.
Group A (1): the first player in possession passes to the teammate on the right upper cone, who receives and he passes back on the of the 3rd man, who is running from the lower left corner to finish with 1 touch shot.
Group B (2): the first player in possession passes to the opposite corner, from where a teammate is running forward to receive and to pass sideways for the third man, who finishes with 1 touch shot.
The sequences must be performed on both the sides, to allow the players shooting with both feet.
Eye on: 1 touch combination, timing of runs without the ball and of passes.
Exercise 22: 1 touch and 3rd man simultaneous shooting at speed under pressure
Set-up and Sequence: the letters A and B in the picture indicates 2 groups of players. The players in possession in group A are placed in the middle of the longer left side and those of the group B are placed on the upper left corner. The other players of the group A are placed on the left lower and right upper corners; the rest of the group B is on the lower right corner and in the middle of the right side. 2 goals with goalkeepers are placed along the shorter sides.
Group A (1): the first player in possession passes to the teammate on the right upper cone, who receives and he passes back on the run of the 3rd man, who is moving from the lower left corner to finish with 1 touch shot, under the sideways pressure of the first player in possession before.
Group B (2): the first player in possession passes to the opposite corner from where a teammate is running forward to receive and to pass sideways for the third man, who finishes with a 1 touch shot under the pressure of the prior shooting player.
The sequences must be performed on both the sides, to allow the players shooting with both feet.
Eye on: 1 touch combination, timing of runs without the ball and of passes, pressure to counter the finishing phase.
Exercise 23: 1 touch and 3rd man simultaneous shooting at speed after inside runs
Set-up and Sequence: 2 groups of players in possession are placed on the upper right corner and on the left lower corner. The other players are placed in the middle of the sidelines and 2 more are placed in the middle of the set up. 2 goals with goalkeepers are placed along the shorter sides.
The players in possession on corners must play forward and diagonally to the center players, who then pass sideways (on left) and pass back (on the right).
Both the first possession players must run forward to receive the last passes, as third men, between the teammates before shooting with 1 touch.
The sequences must be performed on both the sides to allow the players shooting with both feet.
Eye on: 1 touch combination, timing of runs without the ball and of passes to shot with 1 touch.
Exercise 24: 1 touch and 3rd man simultaneous shooting at speed after inside runs under pressure
Set-up and Sequence: 2 groups of players in possession are placed on the upper right corner and on the left lower corner. The other players are placed in the middle of the sidelines and 2 more are placed in the middle of the set up. 2 goals with goalkeepers are placed along the shorter sides.
The players in possession on corners must play forward and diagonally to the center players, who then pass sideways (on left) and pass back (on the right).
Both the first possession players must run forward to receive the last passes, as third men, between the teammates, before shooting with 1 touch under pressure (the nearest foot on the left and the further one on the right combination). 2 touch shots are allowed if the possession must be made safe against the defenders. The players in the middle must become the defenders of the opposite combination, trying to recover the space against their opponents to counter the finishing phase. The sequences must be performed on both the sides to allow the players shooting with both feet.
Eye on: 1 touch combination, timing of runs without the ball and of passes to shot with 1 touch, reaction speed to counter the shots attempts.
