There are many different scenarios that lead to scoring opportunities. There are also many different ways or methods to finish and score. You may take the ball out of the air with your head or foot. You may beat your defender with a move a score with your right or left foot. You might receive a pass along the ground and simply use one touch to finish. The point is that as a coach you must constantly put you players in position to use a variety of skills to finish in a variety of situations.
Below is a video clip from a Glazier Clinic Vault featuring Lee Cullip, Sporting Director – Technical Intitute. In this clip Coach Cullip demonstrates two different functional finishing drills that are simple to set up, effective and easily adaptable.
You can click on the link above to learn how to gain access to Coach Cullip’s entire presentation entitled Player Centric Development in a Group Environment. The vault also contains many other presentations from some of the finest soccer coaches in the country. In addition, Glazier also conducts a number of camps around the country. Click the link Glazier Soccer Clinics to see if there is a clinic near you.
The clip below has sound, so please make sure that your sound is turned on.
The first activity consists of two lines of players stationed near the center of the field facing the goal. The distance from the goal may be varied depending on your individual needs. Two passers are placed a few yards in front of and between the two lines. The players on the right side will make a move to the outside and open up to receive a pass from the middle passers. They will then push pass to the outside (around a mannequin or pole) and strike the ball towards the goal.
The left side line will open up and receive a pass from the middle passers and then fake to the outside, make a move past a mannequin or pole, push the ball to the open middle and strike the ball towards the goal.
The second drill begins by placing two mannequins in the middle of the field. Two offensive players are placed with their backs to the mannequins. A ball is served over the players head. Once the ball is over their heads, the players spin out and around the mannequin. Their goal is to use the inside of their foot and only one touch to put the ball in the back of the net. The two lines compete against each other.