Designing offenses and training players to create quality shots is the key to scoring more consistently. The first few seconds after your team wins the ball is the best time to catch the opponent at a disadvantage. If you can teach your team to attack quickly and efficiently after a change of possession you will increase your scoring opportunities.

In the video below Steve McCrath, Head Coach at Barry University, demonstrates a nice 8 v 5 game to work on attacking quickly and producing quality shots.

The drill is part of a collection of drills designed to improve attacking skills and your teams aggressive mindset. If you are interested in DVD that this drill comes from click the link Training Games for Attacking Play

The YouTube video has sound, so please make sure that your sound is turned on and that you have access to the site.

The notes and rules for the drill are posted below the video

The drills is called 8 v 5 unlimited touches. It is played in one half of the field with the same team on offense for 7 consecutive minutes. The drill is designed for the offense to be very aggressive, but still maintain their spacing fundamentals while moving effectively without the ball.

The goal is for the offense to get as many shots on goal as possible in the 7 minutes. Points are awarded for quality shots on goal, corner kicks and goals scored. If the offense gets a throw in, a knew ball is quickly entered at midfield and they attack from that position.

Should the keeper secure the ball, he can clear the ball to midfield and the offense must start a knew possession. He may also choose to outlet the ball and the defense can then possess the ball as long as the can in order to kill time and thus reduce the offense’s scoring opportunities. Anytime the defending team is able to get the ball to the midfield line, they can sub someone out. A new ball would be thrown in and the offense would begin a new possession.

After 7 minutes the teams can switch roles. This is also a good conditioning drill as play is continuous and fast.

Proper training of your goalkeepers is of course critical. They need repetitions on the basic fundamental techniques of positioning and defending the goal in all possible game situations.

In the video below University of North Carolina Women’s Soccer Goalkeeper Coach, Chris Ducar, takes you through one of the drills he uses to work with his goalkeepers. The Tarheels one of the premier programs in NCAA Womens Soccer.

During Coach Ducar’s tenure alone they have one 9 National Championships and 22 overall in the school history.

The drill below is just part of a series of drills designed to help goalkeepers effectively defend. If you are interested in learning more about the DVD this drill came from, click the link Attacking Goalkeeping: Drills, Techniques and Tactics

The YouTube video has sound, so please make sure your sound is on and that you can access the site.

In this drill Coach Ducar is simulating that the offense has flanked the defense (not on a cross) and they have gotten down within the 18. This is a dangerous position and signals the keeper to change position.

In this situation the goalkeeper has three priorities. First step to the near post and take the shot away. Second win any ball that is served between the post and the 6yd line. Third protect against a ball that is cut back to the 12 yd line or bent back to the far post.

In the video he demonstrates a drill to rep the first two priorities. The key teaching points for the keepers first priority are as follows. The goalkeeper must move to a spot an arm’s length away from the near post and one step in front. They must not allow a goal from this position. They should be able to secure the ball, or knock it out, if the shot is taken from here, no matter how hard it is struck.

In the first part of the drill simply have the keeper move from the middle to the proper position near post and defend shots on goal from an offensive player.

If the offense can’t score directly from this position then they might pass the ball to an area between the post and the 6. This is the second priority of the keeper. She must win this ball. How far she covers depends on the distance of the serve, its velocity and her individual ability.

So in this part of the drill the offensive player serves the ball back to the middle to about the 6 where a coach or player is positioned. Should the keeper not win the ball, they are there to put it in. This drill allows the keeper to work on their collapse dive and extension dive. Key teaching point is to go attack the ball. Do not dive backwards.

In a man up situation you want your players to have an attacking mentality.  

You need them to to read the defense and react quickly in order to distribute the ball and create scoring opportunities in transition situations.

In the video below Marcus Wood, a 2010 NCAA D-III National Championship coach and 2010 NSCA National Coach of the Year, explains a 4 v 3 drill he utilizes to develop appropriate instincts in scoring situations.

This continuous 4v3 drill is just one in a series of drills that Coach Wood uses that will increase your players’ speed of play and help them better understand their positioning and their role on the field in attacking situations.

For more information about other drills click the link Game-Like Goal Scoring Drills for Soccer

This YouTube video has sound, so please make sure that the sound is on and that you have access to the site. (if you are viewing from school, many times this site may be blocked)

As coaches we work on lots of things that help our teams win. Ultimately, however, we are striving to simply score goals. As simple as this seems we must not forget to give our players multiple reps finishing and scoring goals. In the Championship Productions video below Brian McMahon,Palm Beach Atlantic University Head Coach, demonstrates a drill that he uses the day before matches to work on finishing. In 2015 Palm Beach Atlantic scored 84 goals and led the NCAA D-II in goals per game.

To learn more about the DVD that this clip came from click on the link Combination Play and Finishing Exercises on Goal

This YouTube video has sound, so make sure your sound is turned on and you are able to access the site.

The set up for this drill is as follows. Two goals are placed at opposite ends of a shortened playing area. The goals should be offset, with on further to the right and the other further to the left.

Players are aligned in a zig-zag pattern leading towards each goal. Five players in each zig-zag line. The drill will run going both directions simultaneously. To picture the pattern. Imagine that the ball is at the center back he will pass to a right wing back, who in turn passes to a center mid. The center mid would then pass to right winger( or 7), who then passes to a 9 that has a shot on goal.

As each player passes the simply follow their pass until the receive the pass to take their shot on goal. After taking their shot, they get in line on the other side and come back the opposite direction. They will pass and follow until the get a shot in goal at the other end.

Typically he has players go until they have scored twice on each end and then he will change the combination of passes before the shot is taken. The combination that you choose to use is up to your imagination. Whatever combination you use, the players will still follow their pass and eventually move into position for the shot.

You can have the players one or two touch if necessary depending on the pass they receive. This is a simple quick way to get losts of touches, shots on goal and work some of your combinations.

There is much that needs to be accomplished in a soccer practice. Ball Control is most definitely something that a coach would want to cover daily. Maintaining possession of the ball requires technique, good decision making, and a solid physical foundation. In the video below from Championship Productions Coach Alan Kirkup, former player for Manchester United and current University of Florida Assistant Coach, uses continuous activity drills that contain elements of both conditioning and maintaining possession while under pressure.

This clips shows you variations of a 4 v 2 drill which is part of a progressive sequence. For more information about the DVD this clip came from click to the link Running a Dynamic Soccer Practice

The video has sound so make sure your sound is turned on. This is a YouTube video, so you will need access to that site.

Coach Kirkup’s practice, recorded in a live practice setting, is fast paced and provides many opportunities for players to get touches on the ball so as to improve their touch and precision in passing and receiving the ball. The drills all stress the importance of working together and communicating with teammates.

The 4v2 sequence begins by putting 6 players in a box. The size of the box may vary depending on the skill level of the players and what the coach wants to get out of the drills that day.

In the first drill the four offensive players are required to use two touches and pass the ball to each other without loosing possession, while the two defenders are trying to disrupt play. The goal is for the offense to get 50 passes. If the defenders disrupts the pass or takes the ball, then they move to offense and the player that lost the ball plays defense.

After a period of time the Coach then calls for a Three Touch Must. Now each offensive player must make three touches and pass to and teammate. The drill helps stress the importance of the first touch and where it is received. This also gives the players a chance to demonstrate some of the individual skills

The sequence concludes with a One Touch Only call. Here Coach Kirkup stresses to keep it simple and keep moving. This is obviously the most difficult of the sequence. As the players skill level increase, this drill will become more and more helpful. Lower skilled players will struggle, but the still need some reps working on their one touch.