By Sean Reed –
Objective
For this session we are focusing on a finishing session; receiving the ball from 4 different areas in order to finish on goal.
Set Up – Part 1
The session takes place in around the in around the penalty area. Players include: 1x GK / 4 x servers / 1 x attacking player. The players serving and attacking will rotate. The attacking player has 4x finishes on goal (max 2 touch per finish).
Ball 1: Attacking players starts goal side of the pole / marker. Played on the angle to receive on the back foot and finish with the right food.
Ball 2: As with ball 1, but on the left foot.
Ball 3: Attacking player gets goal side of the pole, a ball is played from the central server to the wide player who takes a touch past the pole to then deliver a ball into the middle.
Ball 4: As with ball 3 but on the other side.
The attacking player must then finish by running past the two central servers. See Diagram 3
Progressions
• Apply a time limit in order to complete the 4 finishes in (i.e 1 min)
• Ball in wide areas can be delivered either in the air or on the ground
Set – Up – Part 2
The 2nd part of the session continues from the previous finishing session, but for this part of the session we have included a defender. The starting position for the defender is just a few yards off the attacking player. They can make their movement as the ball is played from the servers.
When introducing the defender for the initial few goes the defender can be there to apply passive pressure, after which they become live and apply full contact. For the ball in wide areas, as the attacking player gets themselves goal side of the pole, the defender becomes active
Some Coaching Points
• Movement to receive the ball
• Body shape when receiving the ball
• 1st touch
• Shot across the goal
• Being positive to attack the ball
• Get across the front of the defender
• Work rate, to get back goal side
• Clever movement to lose defender
• End product on target
By Sean Reed
Former First Team Coach of Championship team Fulham FC. Sean is a UEFA A Coach with a Masters in Sport Coaching. He has over 15 years of experience working in professional football from Academy through to First team in the Premiership and Championship.
Web – www.seanjreed.com
Twitter – @SeanJReed