Use this soccer finishing session to help your forwards be more clinical in front of the goal and more comfortable when trying to shoot when receiving pressure from behind. This is usually a defender who is trying to close them down and put them off before the forward tries to shoot on goal. The attacker will also be receiving pressure from the goalkeeper too.
If you would like this session as a downloadable PDF then head to the bottom of the page.
soccer session for finishing underpressure
Warm-up
Time: 10 minutes
Set up:
- 15×20 yard area
- 1 soccer ball per player
- 1 pinnie per pair
Instructions:
create your area and divide your players into pairs.
In each pair, there will be 1 pinnie.
Both of these players will be dribbling their soccer balls.
The player who starts with the pinnie will be the tagger and they must tag their partner, if they do this they will give the pinnie to their partner to become the tagger.
After 2 minutes, the player without the pinnie will get 1 point.
When a player has been tagged they must wait 5 seconds to tag back their partner.
Coaching points:
- Small touches when turning and changing direction
- Big Touches when accelerating into space
- Keep your head up when dribbling
Questions that can lead to coaching points:
- What touches do we want to take when changing direction? Why?
- What touches do we want to take when there is space in front of us? Why?
- Where should my head be when I am dribbling?
Technical activity
Time: 25 minutes
Set up:
- 15×20 yard area
- 4×4 yard area in the middle
- 2 goals
- 1 soccer ball per pair
- Max pairs per square 6
Instructions:
Using the same area create a smaller square inside and place 1 goal in the middle of the 15-yard line opposite each other and set up a marker 6 yards back from the goals and 1 yard in from the posts.
Staying in the same pairs 1 player will be an attacker the other will be a defender.
In the 4×4 yard square, the defenders can only shadow the defender.
Once the attacker leaves the square the defender can try and win the ball.
The attacker can decide when they want to leave the square and score a goal.
If they score a goal they will get 1 point, if they score a goal through the gate in the corners they will get 3 points.
However, if they take their shot in front of the marker it will not count.
If the defender challenges and wins the ball the scores in the opposite goal they will get 1 point.
swap the defender and the attacker every 5 minutes, the player with the highest score wins
Coaching points:
- Big touches into the space to accelerate away from the defender
- Aim for the corners of the goal
- Keep your head up so you can see how far away from the goal you are.
Questions that can lead to coaching points:
- What can we do to get away from the defender if we have space in front of us?
- Where should you be aiming your shot?
- Where should I be looking? Why?
Finishing progression
Time: 25 minutes
Set up:
- 15×20 yard area
- 2 goals
- 1 goalkeeper
- 1 soccer per 2 players
Instructions:
Use the same area however remove the square in the middle, bring one of the goals forward by 5 yards and place a goalkeeper in the opposite goal.
The attackers will start with a soccer ball in line with the goal that is 5 yards in from the side and they are trying to goal in the opposite goal against the goalkeeper
The defenders will start 5 yards back and must pressure the attacker when they start dribbling.
If the attacker scores a goal they will get 3 points and if they get fouled by the defender they will get 1 point.
If the defender can win the ball back and score in the opposite goal they will get 1 point.
swap over the defenders and attackers every 6 minutes
Coaching points:
- Big touches to accelerate away from the defender
- Keep your head up so you know where the goal is and how far away you are
- Small quick touches when changing direction
Questions that can lead to coaching points:
- What touches do we want to take if have space in front of us?
- Why do I want to keep my head up?
- How can get away from the defender in a small area?
Finishing conditioned game
Time: 15 minutes
Set up:
- 15×20 yards area
- Equal teams of 3 to 4 players
- 1 soccer ball
Instruction:
This will be a normal scrimmage however set up 2 gates in the corner of the goals if players can score they will get 1 point and if they manage to get the ball through the gate they will get 3 points.
Coaching points:
- Allow your players to play without too much instruction
- Help players make better decisions making through asking questions and guiding them towards a better decision.
Normal Scrimmage: 10 minutes
Comment and share this session
If you found it useful in this soccer finishing session then please comment and share using our social media buttons.
Related posts:
The Youth Soccer Coaching Handbook
Take the stress out of coaching youth soccer with 250+ pre-made soccer sessions and drills, just turn up and coach!
Here’s the breakdown of what you’ll find inside:
- 35 Defending Drills
- 35 Dribbling and 1v1 Drills
- 21 SAQ Drills
- 47 Passing, Control, and Possession drills
- 31 Goalkeeper drills
- 36 Shooting and Finishing drills
- 30 Soccer Games U4 – U8
- 20 Pre-made soccer sessions (90 minutes in length each)
