Small-Sided Shooting and Finishing Game

Chris Johnson 162,947 Views Rating 3.82 (50 Reviews)

This small-sided shooting and finishing game is a great shooting drill that focuses on shooting and finishing.

Soccer Drill Diagram: Small-Sided Shooting and Finishing Game

Small-Sided, Shooting, finishing, goal scoring, soccer, drill, game, practice, training

This small-sided shooting and finishing game is a great shooting drill that focuses on shooting and finishing.
Drill Setup

  1. Create a small area, approximately the size of the penalty area (18X40 yards), and mark the field's center point with cones.
  2. Taper each of the sidelines towards the goals on each end of the penalty area. This shape will help avoid bad shooting angles.
  3. Organize players in a 4v2 (four defenders and two attackers) in each half of the field.
  4. Restrict players to stay on the side of the grid they were initially placed.
  5. Place spare soccer balls near each of the goals for quick retrieval and quick restarts.
Drill Instructions

  1. The defenders must shoot from their half of the field.
  2. The forwards should follow any shots from the defenders and finish any rebounds.
  3. If the goalkeeper recovers the shot, they quickly distribute the ball to their defensive players, and the play continues.
  4. If the shot flys over the goal, a new ball is retrieved from behind the goal, and play should resume quickly.
  5. Players are encouraged to take half chances and limit the number of touches before shooting.
  6. Forwards should follow any shot for rebounds.
Drill Variations

  • Place a restriction on the number of touches. Allow defenders to have 3-touch and forward's only 1-touch. This will encourage quick shots and more opportunities.
Drill Coaching Points

  • Players should be instructed to take shots. Players miss 100% of all shots not taken!
  • Forwards need to be reminded to follow any rebound and get in the keeper’s face.
  • The number of touches should be limited to take quick shots.

Top Rated Soccer Drills


7v7 Scrimmage

Chris Johnson 160,265 Views Rating 4.4 (5 Reviews)
It's always good to finishing a soccer training session with a 7 vs. 7 scrimmage to focus on team play.

Sharks and Minnows

Chris Johnson 573,674 Views Rating 4.3 (166 Reviews)
The Sharks and Minnows dribbling drill focuses on using the body to protect the ball by placing their body in between the ball and the defender.

1v1 Diamond Shooting Drill

Chris Johnson 493,616 Views Rating 4.3 (10 Reviews)
Spice up your shooting combination drill by finishing with a 1v1 to goal. Add a fun little twist, and the kids love it.

Pirates of the Pugg

John Bychok 720,676 Views Rating 4.27 (384 Reviews)
This drill is an excellent drill for younger players ages 8-11 and focuses on dribbling technique in traffic which requires vision and awareness.

Alien Tag Soccer Game

Chris Johnson 342,924 Views Rating 4.27 (11 Reviews)
Alien tag is a great Under 4 soccer game for 3, 4, 5, and 6 year-olds. Your kids will like flying around and crashing in their spaceship.

4v4 Soccer to a Small Gate

Chris Johnson 249,280 Views Rating 4.24 (75 Reviews)
4v4 in soccer is the smallest game focusing on all aspects of a full sided soccer match.

The Flag Game - Dribbling in Tight Spaces

Chris Johnson 199,249 Views Rating 4.23 (48 Reviews)
The flat game soccer drill is designed to focus on young soccer players learning to dribble in tight spaces.

Four Corners Passing Game

Chris Johnson 801,758 Views Rating 4.2 (284 Reviews)
The Four Corners Soccer Passing Game is a great soccer passing drill to focus on changing the point of the attack, and timing of runs and passes.

1v1 Competition

Chris Johnson 341,535 Views Rating 4.2 (147 Reviews)
This drill is great to focus on 1v1 play. It is flexible and can be used to work on the offensive side or the defensive side.

Ouch!

Chris Johnson 691,572 Views Rating 4.18 (268 Reviews)
A FUN soccer drill for younger players (U6, U7, and U8) to introduce dribbling, looking up and correctly striking the ball at a target.