Soccer Check And Finish Practice Training Drill

Setup

  • 1 goalie
  • good supply of cones
  • 1 goal
  • good supply of balls
  • pinnies
  • 10-20 min

Rules & Objectives

  • one designated attacker vs. a designated defender inside the grid
  • 2 servers opposite the goal
  • the attacker attempts to receive a pass from one of the servers and then finishes on goal
  • the defender tries to prevent the attacker from scoring
  • after a set number of times players change roles

Variations

  • vary position/number of servers (i.e. plus 2 servers along sideline)
  • the attacker must finish after 2-4 touches
  • adjust spacing depending on the age and ability of the group

Coaching Points

  • Attacking: eye on ball
  • Attacking: quality of preparation touch
  • Attacking: aggressive and positive mentality
  • Attacking: vision and anticipation
  • Attacking: placement versus power
  • Attacking: positioning to gain an advantage
  • Defending: closing down (pressuring opponent)
  • Defending: goal side positioning
  • Defending: angle and speed of approach
  • Defending: control and restraint
  • Defending: delay and channel
  • Defending: deny turn
  • Defending: timing and decision to tackle

Difficulty: Intermediate

Emphasis: Finishing, Passing

Number of Players: 5+

Age Group: 12 to 15, 16+, 8 to 11

Format:

Additional Drills