Finishing off attacks

by Tony Carr in Practice plans, Shooting

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Scoring goals is one of the key aims of football. This technical session works on finishing
and movement. It gets players shooting from both sides of the penalty area and from the
centre.
What this session is about
1. Scoring goals from all angles.
2. Moving into attacking positions.
3. Support.
4. Shooting from different angles.
What to think about
Players must consider:
 Accuracy of their shots.
 Where to run and when.
 Shooting with either foot.
 Accurately crossing to target players.
 Where to target the shot? Across the goalkeeper/ near to the corner/high or low?
 When it comes to shooting, good technique can achieve better results than rushing the
shot.
Set-up
Warm
Warm up Session Developments Game Situation
Down

10 minutes 15 minutes 10 minutes 15 minutes 10

minutes
What you get your players to do
Use the final third of a pitch. Create three teams (A, B and C) of three players facing the goal
– one at each side of the box and the other in the middle. Add cones in front of team C.
The first player in team A receives a pass (1) from a server (S) on the side of the pitch and
shoots at goal, as shown in the top picture. He then receives another ball and passes to the
first player in team B (2) who shoots at goal. A and B return to the front of their queues ready
to move for a cross.
Next, the first player in team C dribbles through the cones and shoots, then runs around the
back of team B and down the wing, as shown in the middle picture.
On his shot, the first players in teams A and B run across the penalty area to the near and far
post ready to shoot at goal from a cross. The player on the wing from team C crosses the ball
to either post, as shown in the bottom picture. After this move, player A goes to the back of
line B, B goes to the back of line C and C joins the backs of line A.
The exercise continues in the same way with new players at the front.
Play at high intensity for four sessions of three minutes with one minute’s rest between each.
See how many goals the team can score in each session. Try to beat the score each time.

The server passes to A, who shoots then receives another ball. A passes to B, who shoots as
well.

Development
You can make the session more realistic by adding defenders.
Take two of the players and put them beside the goal posts. They take it in turns to try and
stop the initial shots from A, B and C in 1v1 battles.
Defenders must be in the penalty area to try and beat the attacker to the cross.
Player C dribbles through the cones and shoots. He receives another ball, dribbles around
group B and up the wing.

Game situation
Set up an area 40 yards long by 30 yards wide and play a five-a-side game, including
goalkeepers.
Encourage repetition of the session with good technique for finishing and movement to create
space and be in the right place to receive the ball.
Encourage wing play so you can see whether your players have learned from the session.
The team that scores most goals wins.
Players A and B make runs to opposite goal posts to try and score a goal from C’s cross.

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About Tony Carr

Tony Carr is one of the most influential figures in English football. The former West Ham
Academy director has brought through – from the youth team to the first team – players like
Glen Johnson, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole and
Jermain Defoe.
View all posts by Tony Carr >
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