Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Finishing - Technique of striking with the instep

Dribbling to Finish

This is another exercise that allows the attacking players to practice dribbling to create their own shot.

As they approach the cone, they will look to perform a skill to beat the cone (to begin this exercise I recommend starting with a skill warm-up/review) and then have a shot from within the danger zone marked out by yellow cones.

For this practice we want the players to be finishing with the inside of their foot. There are a few things we are looking for when we do this:

1) We need to see a sharp skill that beats the "defender"

2) We need a positive touch that takes the player towards the goal to finish and into the danger zone

3) hips need to be point to the target

4) ankle needs to be locked, but this time having the toe pointed up

5) need to sweep through the ball and follow through with your foot coming through the ball

6) Make contact with the arch of your foot to the middle of the ball

Continuous 2v1

This activity is a continuous game of 2v1. Each team will take turns engaging in a 2v1 to attack trying to create a sitution where they can finish. We will encourage them to finish with the inside of their foot, but laces finishes are certainly acceptable in this game as well.

The player who shoots or loses the ball will immediately become the defender as the next two attacking players from the other team step on the field to play.

This exercise has an element of transition to it making it difficult because players must focus and realize the change in roles. In addition to the attacking task of trying to create a shot.

This game can be played to a target of goals scored or for a number of time.