Two Quick Finishing Training Activities
By Chris Kouns
These activities are designed to help your players not only get repetitions in terms of some of the technical aspects of finishing, but, to also create an environment for them when they can hone their “Finishing Mentality”
Activity 1: Technical and Psychological Finishing Repetition
Set up involves five (5) different areas or lines. This set up can allow you to focus on functional aspects of these finishing methods by keeping players in the roles they will perform on the field, or, you can rotate the groups after a period of time.
Finishing Sequence
Player (A) will play the ball into the path of either Player ( D or E )
Player (A) will then run through the central flags where Player ( B or C ) whichever is OPPOSITE of the side that ( A ) played the first ball will play a ball into the path of ( A ) for a long range finishing opportunity. At that time the player not playing the ball into their path will play a big diagonal ball to the opposite wide line ( D or E )
As soon as they receive the wide ball from ( A ) Player ( D or E ) will dribble the ball at pace around the wide flags and then drive a low cross for ( A ) to REDIRECT at the NEAR POST
As soon as the other wide player (D or E) receive their diagonal ball from the center they will also attack the flags at pace on the dribble where they will drive a ball to the PK SPOT
After finishing the NEAR POST BALL ( A ) will immediately back pedal and prepare to attack the PK SPOT where they will look to PLACE the ball to the back post
Coaching Points
- Finish #1 for Player ( A ) should focus on ACCURACY and hitting the target
- Finish #2 for Player ( A ) CAN’T “SWITCH OFF” but IMMEDIATELY make a DECISIVE RUN to the NEAR POST area where they can REDIRECT the low driven cross
- Finish #3 requires Player ( A ) to RECYCLE body position with their SHOULDERS and EYES turning Quickly to find the ball while their HIPS turn & run to the PK SPOT where they will PLACE the ball to the FAR POST with a focus on PLACEMENT NOT POWER
- Consistency of serve and timing of runs are huge in terms of the ability to create finishing
opportunities - EVERYTHING MUST BE DONE AT FULL PACE!
Activity 2: SWITCHED ON FINISHING
Players will be set up in five lines facing the goal from about 40 yards away from goal. There will be a GK in goal and then you can also add a “COUNTER” flat goal at an angle off the side about 35 yards from goal. ** Counter goal is optional to allow you consistent finishing opportunities no matter which side of the ball you are on!
A – The second player in line will play a ball through the legs of Player ( A ) who must finish the ball from distance before
the ball gets to the cones at the arc
B – Player ( A ) will IMMEDIATLEY TURN and become a defender because on their shot the next line will repeat the
Process so that it will now become a 1 v 1 to goal. In the 1 v 1 battle you do not have to finish by the cones.
** If you are using the counter goal at this point you can work on transition because when ( A ) wins the ball from ( B ) they can then attack the diagonal goal forcing ( B ) to defend and try to transition back to attack
C – Players ( A & B ) will now turn and become defenders because on the shot taken in the 1 v 1 a ball will be played
from behind the next two lines creating a 2 v 2 battle to goal. Same rules apply as with the 1 v 1
D – On the shot taken in the 2 v 2 the last line will play a ball in allowing a 4 v 4 attacking opportunity. Same rules apply
as with the 1 v 1 and 2 v 2
Coaching Points
- When breaking away to finish (without defender in front) take a LONG PREP TOUCH into the path of your shooting foot and then focus on ACCURACY to the back post or to the area of the goal that the GK position is giving up in that situation
- In the 1 v 1 finishing scenario GO AT PACE without FEAR OF LOSING THE BALL and attack
the defenders “backside” looking for just enough separation to strike the ball on goal. Recognize you only need “1 BALL WIDTH” away from the defender to be able to finish - In the 2 v 2 the player off the ball must make a quick decision as to the space where they can get off a shot or where they can create space for the player on the ball to exploit and get off their own shot
- In the 4 v 4 the focus for those off the ball is to be facing the goal in all runs so they can finish first time if the opportunity is given.
- In the 4 v 4 the player on the ball should go at pace towards the side where the attackers will have numbers up and the greatest chance of creating a finish.
By Chris Kouns: USSF A License (USSF Coaching Education Instructor) – NSCAA Premier Diploma (NSCAA Coaching Education Associate Staff Coach) – Head Coach Georgia Gwinnet College Women’s Soccer (GA)
