WORLD CLASS COACHING
Advanced Shooting and Finishing Volume 2
By Luca Bertolini
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part One
INTRODUCTION
DRIBBLE AND/OR PASSING FROM INSIDE THE AREA AND SHOOT FROM CENTER/OUTSIDE
Part Two
DRIBBLE AND/OR PASS FROM INSIDE THE AREA AND SHOOT FROM OUTSIDE/CORNERS
Part Three
DRIBBLE AND/OR PASS FROM WIDE AND SHOOT FROM OUTSIDE/CORNERS
Part Four
DRIBBLE AND/OR PASSING FROM WIDE AND SHOOT FROM CENTER/OUTSIDE
Introduction
This is the second volume of this e-book collection. The main goal is to help coaches and players to recognize some game situations in the final third while their team is in possession which could end in a shot.
How many times does a team lose a scoring chance because of an incorrect final pass, because of a wrong run without the ball, or because of a poorly weighted pass?
Moreover, how many times is a scoring chance missed because of wrong tempo or because the moving rhythm was not accelerated before shooting on goal?
This is the reason why I divide the final third of the attacking team in four passing areas and three shooting areas; they are combined together in each section of this e-book and all the related exercises are useful to create score chances and to shoot on goal as quickly as possible.
All the exercises are organized with increasing difficulty level; from a simple basic level without opposition, to more complex game situations of small group duels, passing through exercises with 1 v 1 or 2 v 2 duels under the pressure of time.
Often, a correct and well-oriented ball control, a simple but well done pass with high quality of touch, can make the difference between scoring and a missed chance. A 1 v 1 duel quickly solved or a small group’s duel quickly solved with the right pass at the right time can mean a goal or a lost possession.
The exercises of this e-book are designed thinking about the areas where the last pass usually come from or where the ball is usually dribbled through, and about the areas where shots are usually finished from. All the sequences and the small duels are designed to provide as many chances to shoot as possible.
The final third is divided into 4 passing or dribbling areas:
• wide and deep spaces on the flanks
• wide spaces on the flank in the final third
• center spaces in the final third
• the penalty area
And the final third is divided in 3 shooting areas:
• outside corners of the penalty area
• the center spaces out of the penalty area
• inside the penalty area
All the sequences are the results of the dribbling, passing and shooting combination between those areas and among the players who are placed inside those areas. The goalkeeper always starts the exercises.
Dribbling and/or Passing areas
Dribble or pass from wide and deep spaces on the flanks: back passes are played toward the player or the players who must try to finish.
Dribble or pass from wide spaces along the flanks in the final third: from these areas, the last passes can be played toward the center spaces or inside the penalty area even through long balls.
Dribble or pass from center spaces in the final third: last passes are usually played inside the penalty area to finish as quickly as possible.
Dribble or pass from and in the penalty area: short and quick passes should be played inside or just outside with one touch passes to shoot on goal.
Shooting areas
Shoot from outside corners of the penalty area: usually after feints or dribbling the ball toward the goal.
Shoot from the center spaces out of the penalty area: usually the players must shoot with one touch or through fast pass combinations and feints.
Shoot inside the penalty area: usually with one touch as the ball arrives from outer spaces (behind or from outside).
Dribble or pass from inside the penalty area and shoot from the center spaces out of it
Exercise 47: 1 v goalkeeper
Sequence: The goalkeeper passes the ball inside the penalty area toward a player, who must control and dribble it out of the penalty area. He must then shoot on goal after a change of direction.
Variations:
• Indicate a fixed limit of time to dribble out and to shoot on goal
• Change the dribbling foot, the change of direction foot, and the shooting foot
Eye on: Quick shots on goal, player’s body placement to change direction, and shots with one foot or the other.
Exercise 48: 1 v 1 (1)
Sequence: The goalkeeper passes the ball inside the penalty area toward a player, who must control it and dribble it out of the penalty area under the pressure of a defender, who is always close to him. He must then shoot on goal after a change of direction. The defender is semi-active while dribbling out of the penalty area and he's active as the ball is out of it. If the defender wins the ball, he can shoot on goal.
Variations:
• Indicate a fixed limit of time to dribble out and to shoot on goal
• Change the dribbling foot, the change of direction foot, and the shooting foot
Eye on: Shield the ball while dribbling, quick shoots on goal, body placement to change direction under pressure and to shoot with one foot or the other. Pressure to send the forward toward his wrong foot.
Exercise 49: 1 v 1 (2)
Sequence: The goalkeeper passes the ball inside the penalty area toward a player who must control it and dribble it out of the penalty area. He must then shoot on goal after a change of direction under the pressure of a defender, who is coming from the other side of the goal. If the defender wins the ball, he can shoot on goal.
Variations:
• Indicate a fixed limit of time to dribble out and to shoot on goal
• Change the dribbling foot, the change of direction foot, and the shooting foot
Eye on: Dribbling at speed, quick shoots on goal, body placement to change direction under pressure and to shoot with one foot or the other. Pressure to send the forward toward his wrong foot.
Exercise 50: 1 v 2
Sequence: The goalkeeper passes the ball inside the penalty area toward a player who must control it and dribble it out of the penalty area, under the pressure of a defender who is always close to him. He must then shoot on goal after a change of direction under the pressure of a second defender, who's coming from the opposite side of the goals. The first defender is semi-active while the attacker is dribbling out of the penalty area and he's active as the ball is out of it. If the defenders win the ball, they can shoot on goal.
Variations:
• Indicate a fixed limit of time to dribble out and to shoot on goal
• Change the dribbling foot, the change of direction foot, and the shooting foot
• The first defender can be active also while dribbling out of the penalty area
• Alternate the 2 v 1 duel when the possession is recovered and lost
Eye on: Shielding the ball while dribbling, quick shots on goal, body placement to change direction under pressure being outnumbered and to shots with both feet. Pressure to send the forward toward his wrong foot.
Exercise 51: 1 v goalkeeper after receiving a pass
Sequence: The goalkeeper passes the ball inside the penalty area toward a first player, who must control it and pass it again out of the penalty area toward a second forward. He must then shoot on goal with one touch while running.
Variations:
• Indicate a number of touches of the first player to master the ball and to change the timing of runs and of receiving of the ball out of the penalty area
• Change the shooting foot to be placed in the right body position
Eye on: Quick passes and shots on goal, body placement to shoot with one foot or the other while running.
Exercise 52: 1 v 1 after receiving a pass
Sequence: The goalkeeper passes the ball inside the penalty area toward the first player who must control it and pass it out of the penalty area, toward a forward, who must then shoot on goal with one touch while running. The first receiver becomes defender in the 1 v 1 duel. If the defender wins the possession, he can shoot on goal.
Variations:
• Indicate the number of touches the first player has to master the ball and to change the timing of runs and of receiving of the ball out of the penalty area
• Change the shooting foot to be placed in the right body position
Eye on: Quick shots on goal, body placement to shoot with one foot or the other while running, speed to put pressure against the opponent. Pressure to send the forward toward his wrong foot.
Exercise 52: 1 v 1 + 1 (1)
Sequence: The goalkeeper passes the ball inside the penalty area toward the first player, who must control it and pass it again out of the penalty area toward a free player under pressure of a defender. The free player must then shoot on goal with one touch and if he scores, the point counts for the player in possession before. If the defender wins the possession, he must pass the ball out to give the free player the chance to score.
Variations:
• Indicate a number of touches of the first player to master the ball, to save it from the opponent and change the timing of runs and of receiving of the ball out of the penalty area
• Change the shooting foot to be placed in the right body position
Eye on: Quick shots on goal, body placement to save the ball, shots with one foot or the other while running, speed to put pressure against the opponent.
Variation: 1 v 1 + 1 (2)
Sequence: The goalkeeper passes the ball inside the penalty area toward a free player who must control it and pass it again out of the penalty area, where a 1 v 1duel is being played. The receiver must shoot on goal with one touch or the fewest number of touches possible. If the defender wins the possession, he must shoot on goal directly.
Variations:
• Indicate the number of touches the free player has to master the ball to change the timing of runs without the ball and of receiving of the ball out of the penalty area
• The defender must play a wall passing combination with the free player before shooting out of the penalty area
Eye on: Quick shots on goal, body placement to shield the ball, to shoot with one foot or the other while running, speed to put pressure against the opponent. Pressure to send the forward toward his wrong foot.
Exercise 53: 1 v 2 after receiving a pass
Sequence: The goalkeeper passes the ball inside the penalty area toward the first player, who must control it and pass it again out of the penalty area toward a forward, who is under the pressure of a defender. He must then shoot on goal with the fewest number of touches possible and before being under the pressure of the second defender. If one of the defenders win the possession, he can shoot on goal.
Variations:
• Indicate the number of touches the first player has to master the ball, and to change the time of runs of the 1 v 1 outside duel and of receiving of the ball out of the penalty area
• If one defender wins the possession he must play a wall passing combination with the second one before shooting on goal
• The 1 v 2 duels can be alternated depending on who lost the possession and who won it
Eye on: Quick shots on goal, body placement to save the ball, shooting with one foot or the other while running, speed to put pressure against the opponent. Pressure to send the forward toward his wrong foot.
Exercise 54: 2 +1 v 1 duel
Sequence: The goalkeeper passes the ball inside the penalty area toward a first player, who must control it and play a 2 v 1 together with a teammate under the pressure of a defender. The goal is to pass the ball out of the penalty area toward a free player who must then shoot on goal with one touch. If he scores, the point counts for the players in possession before. If the defender wins the possession, he must pass the ball out to give the free player the chance to score for him.
Variations:
• Indicate a number of passes the two forwards have to master the ball, to save it from the opponent and to change the time of runs and of receiving of the ball out of the penalty area
• Change the shooting foot to be placed in the right body position
• If the defender wins the ball, he must play a wall pass combination with the free player, shooting on goal out of the penalty area
Eye on: Quick passing combinations before shooting on goal, body placement to save the ball, to shoot with one foot or the other while running, speed to put pressure against the opponents and to play wall passing combinations.
Exercise 55: 2 v 2 + 1 (1)
Sequence: The goalkeeper passes the ball inside the penalty area toward a first player, who must control it and then play a 2 v 2 duel together with a teammate, under the pressure of two defenders. The goal is to pass the ball out of the penalty area toward a free player who must then shoot on goal with one touch. If he scores, the goal counts for the players with the possession before. If the defenders win the possession, they must pass the ball toward the free player and receive a back pass out of the penalty area before shooting on goal.
Variations:
• Indicate a number of passes of the two forwards to master the ball, to save it from the opponents and to change the timing of runs and of receiving of the ball out of the penalty area
• Change the shooting foot to be placed in the right body position
• If the defenders win the ball, they must play a passing combination with the free player, shooting on goal out of the penalty area
Eye on: Quick passing combination before shooting on goal, body placement to save the ball, to shoot with one foot or the other while running, speed to put pressure against the opponents and to play wall passing combinations.
Exercise 56: 2 v 2 + 1 (2)
Sequence: The goalkeeper passes the ball inside the penalty area toward a free player, who must control it and then decide which couple of players will be in possession in the 2 v 2 duel outside of the penalty area. The goal counts only after a wall pass inside/outside with the free player. If the defenders win possession, they must pass the ball out to give the free player the chance to score for them.
Variations:
• Indicate a number of passes of the two forwards to master the ball, to save it from the opponents before shooting on goal
• The 2 v 2 duels can be decided by the second receiver
• If the defenders win the ball, they can shoot directly
Eye on: Quick passing combination before shooting on goal, body placement to save the ball, to shoot with one foot or the other while running, speed to put pressure against the opponents and to play wall passing combination. Pressure to send the forward toward his wrong foot.
Exercise 57: 2 v 2 + 1 (3)
Sequence: The goalkeeper passes the ball inside the penalty area toward a free player who must control it and then decides which couple is in possession in the 2 v 2 duel out of the penalty area. The goals count only after a wall pass with a second free player out of the penalty area. If the defenders win the possession, they must pass the ball to one of the free player to score after receiving a back pass.
Variations:
• Indicate a number of passes of the two forwards to master the ball, to save it from the opponents before shooting on goal
• The 2 v 2 duels can be decided by the second receiver or the second free player
• If the defenders win the ball, they can shoot directly
Eye on: Quick passing combination before shooting on goal, body placement to save the ball, to shoot with one foot or the other while running, speed to put pressure against the opponents and to play wall passing combination. Pressure to send the forward toward his wrong foot.
