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25 FINISHING PRACTICES

Create Chances. Finish Better.

25 practical, tested finishing practices designed to develop players’ ability to create and convert goal-scoring opportunities.

How do you help players become better finishers?

How do you improve finishing under pressure?

How do you develop movement in and around the box?

How do you create better shooting opportunities?

How do you improve finishing with both feet?

How do you develop combinations around the penalty area?

And how do you help players make better decisions when the opportunity to score arrives?

25 Finishing Practices provides coaches with a practical collection of tested practices designed to develop finishing, attacking movement and decision-making in front of goal.

Written by a professional football coach and coach developer, this book gives coaches practical practices they can take straight onto the training pitch.

25 PRACTICAL, TESTED FINISHING PRACTICES

Finishing is more than simply striking the ball.

It is about everything that happens before, during and after the opportunity.

Players need to recognise:

Where is the space?

When should I move?

Where will the ball arrive?

Can I finish first time?

Should I take another touch?

Which technique should I use?

Where is the goalkeeper?

Can I create a better opportunity?

These 25 practices create repeated opportunities for players to see, decide and finish.

MORE THAN JUST SHOOTING

Good finishing starts before the shot.

It begins with:

• Movement
• Positioning
• Timing
• Scanning
• Creating separation
• Attacking space
• Combination play
• Decision-making
• Technique
• Composure

Develop players who don’t simply wait for chances.

Develop players who can create and recognise them.

DEVELOPING THE WHOLE FINISHER

Finishing practices can develop far more than shooting technique.

TECHNICAL

Finishing.

First-time finishing.

Both-foot finishing.

Different surfaces.

Volleys.

Half-volleys.

Headers.

One-touch finishes.

Finishing from crosses.

Finishing after combinations.

TACTICAL

Movement.

Positioning.

Timing.

Creating space.

Attacking the box.

Recognising gaps.

Combination play.

Attacking different areas.

DECISION-MAKING

Shoot or take another touch?

First time or control?

Near post or far post?

Pass or shoot?

Attack the space or come towards the ball?

Finish quickly or create a better opportunity?

PHYSICAL

Acceleration.

Changes of direction.

Explosive movement.

Repeated runs.

Jumping.

Balance.

PSYCHOLOGICAL

Composure.

Confidence.

Concentration.

Reaction.

Resilience.

Decision-making under pressure.

Develop the complete finisher.

FINISHING TECHNIQUE

Players need a range of techniques to finish effectively.

Develop:

Instep finishes.

Side-foot finishes.

First-time finishes.

Finishes after a touch.

Volleys.

Half-volleys.

Headers.

Finishes across goal.

Near-post finishes.

Finishes from different angles.

The objective is not simply to strike the ball harder.

It is to choose and execute the right technique for the situation.

FINISHING WITH BOTH FEET

A dangerous attacker needs options.

Develop the ability to finish with:

Right foot.

Left foot.

First time.

After a touch.

From different angles.

Under pressure.

Players who can use both feet become more adaptable, unpredictable and effective.

MOVEMENT TO FINISH

The best finishers don’t simply arrive in the box.

They move with purpose.

Develop:

• Runs across defenders
• Runs in behind
• Double movements
• Curved runs
• Blindside movements
• Movement towards the ball
• Movement away from the ball
• Arriving late
• Attacking different areas of the box

Help players understand that the movement creates the finishing opportunity.

ATTACKING THE BOX

Good finishing requires good positioning.

Players need to recognise:

Where should I arrive?

When should I attack the space?

Can I attack the near post?

Can I arrive at the far post?

Can I hold my position?

Can I arrive late?

Develop players who understand how to occupy and attack goal-scoring areas.

FINISHING FROM CROSSES

Crossing creates different finishing problems.

Develop finishing from:

• Early crosses
• Driven crosses
• Lofted crosses
• Cut-backs
• Low deliveries
• Crosses from wide areas
• Crosses from different angles

Players learn to recognise:

Where the ball is coming from.

Where the space is.

When to move.

How to attack the delivery.

Which finishing technique to use.

COMBINATION PLAY & FINISHING

Goals are often created through combinations.

Develop:

Wall passes.

One-twos.

Third-player combinations.

Set and play.

Lay-offs.

Runs beyond.

Rotations around the box.

The final finish may belong to one player.

But the opportunity can be created by many.

FINISHING UNDER PRESSURE

Finishing becomes difficult when time and space disappear.

Defenders close you down.

The goalkeeper advances.

The ball arrives quickly.

The opportunity disappears.

Players must learn to:

Stay composed.

Select the right technique.

Make decisions quickly.

Finish under pressure.

React to rebounds.

Develop finishers who can perform when the game gets difficult.

1v1 FINISHING

One of the clearest goal-scoring opportunities in football.

But what does the player do?

Take it around the goalkeeper?

Finish early?

Go around the outside?

Change direction?

Wait for the goalkeeper to commit?

Develop the ability to make the right decision and execute the finish in 1v1 situations.

FINISHING FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES

Goals don’t always arrive centrally.

Players need to finish from:

Central areas.

Wide areas.

Inside the box.

Outside the box.

Tight angles.

Different distances.

Develop players who can recognise the best finishing solution from the position they find themselves in.

REBOUND & SECOND-BALL FINISHING

Not every shot is clean.

The goalkeeper saves.

The defender blocks.

The ball rebounds.

Good attackers react.

Develop:

Reaction.

Anticipation.

Movement.

Follow-up finishing.

Attacking second balls.

Teach players to stay alive around the goal.

FINISHING FROM DIFFERENT TYPES OF DELIVERY

The ball can arrive in many different ways.

From:

• A pass across the box
• A cut-back
• A cross
• A through ball
• A lay-off
• A rebound
• A deflection
• A diagonal pass
• A ball played behind the defence

Players must adapt their movement, body position and finishing technique to the delivery.

SHOOTING FROM DISTANCE

Not every opportunity is inside the box.

Develop players’ ability to recognise when they can:

Shoot from distance.

Attack a second ball.

Strike through traffic.

Shoot after a carry.

Finish after a combination.

But also understand:

When is shooting the right decision?

CHANCE CREATION & FINISHING

Finishing doesn’t exist in isolation.

Players can create their own opportunities.

Develop:

Ball carrying.

Dribbling.

1v1s.

Movement.

Combination play.

Attacking space.

Creating separation.

Creating shooting opportunities.

Develop attackers who can create as well as finish.

DECISION-MAKING IN FRONT OF GOAL

The final action is often a decision.

Shoot or pass?

First time or touch?

Power or placement?

Near post or far post?

Finish quickly or wait?

Take on the defender or combine?

Attack the rebound or recover position?

Players need more than finishing technique.

They need the ability to recognise the right solution.

FINISHING & TRANSITIONS

Some of the best chances arrive immediately after winning the ball.

The opponent is disorganised.

Space appears.

The opportunity is there.

Can you:

Attack quickly?

Exploit space?

Carry the ball forward?

Combine?

Finish before the defence recovers?

Develop finishing practices that connect transitions with goal scoring.

SMALL-SIDED. HIGH INVOLVEMENT.

Finishing should involve more than standing in a queue waiting to shoot.

Small-sided and game-based practices create:

More touches.

More decisions.

More movement.

More pressure.

More opportunities.

More finishing actions.

More realistic situations.

Create practices where players are constantly involved in the game.

ADAPTABLE TO YOUR PLAYERS

Every group is different.

Every player is different.

Adapt the practices through:

• Pitch size
• Player numbers
• Defenders
• Goalkeeper involvement
• Numerical advantages
• Time
• Scoring systems
• Starting positions
• Direction
• Conditions

Increase the pressure.

Create more space.

Reduce the space.

Add defenders.

Change the objective.

Keep the practice. Change the challenge.

DEVELOPING GAME UNDERSTANDING

The best finishers understand more than how to strike a ball.

They recognise:

Space.

Pressure.

Defenders.

Goalkeeper position.

Teammates.

Movement.

Timing.

Opportunity.

Risk and reward.

Develop players who can understand when, where and how to finish.

FOR EVERY LEVEL

These practices can be adapted across:

Grassroots.

Academy.

Development football.

Senior football.

Elite environments.

The coach controls the challenge.

The principles remain.

The level of complexity changes.

FOR COACHES WHO WANT MORE FINISHING PRACTICES

Sometimes you need another finishing practice.

Another way to challenge attackers.

Another solution for your session.

This book gives coaches 25 practical finishing practices to add to their coaching toolbox.

Use them as:

• Finishing practices
• Main practices
• Technical-tactical practices
• Game-based practices
• Competitive practices
• Small-sided games
• Session components

Adapt them.

Combine them.

Build your sessions around them.

FROM TRAINING TO THE GAME

The purpose of finishing practice is not simply to produce better training sessions.

It is to produce better attackers.

Players who can:

Create opportunities.

Attack space.

Time their movement.

Recognise chances.

Choose the right technique.

Finish with both feet.

Stay composed under pressure.

Make better decisions.

Score goals.

Take the learning from the practice into the real game.

PRACTICAL. TESTED. READY TO USE.

These practices have been designed for the realities of coaching.

They are not complicated exercises that only work on paper.

They are practical, tested finishing practices that can be taken straight onto the pitch.

Set it up.

Explain the objective.

Let the players play.

Observe.

Coach.

Adapt.

Develop.

25 WAYS TO DEVELOP FINISHING

25 practices.

25 different challenges.

Hundreds of finishing actions.

Hundreds of decisions.

Every practice creates another opportunity for players to improve their relationship with:

The ball.

The goal.

The goalkeeper.

Defenders.

Teammates.

Space.

The game.

TRUSTED BY PROFESSIONALS

The author’s eBooks are already being used and endorsed by professionals from the game.

Including:

Danny Röhl — Football Manager
Gaël Clichy — Former Manchester City & Arsenal player, Coach
Yohan Cabaye — Former Newcastle United & PSG player, Coach
Martin Devaney — Assistant Manager, Barnsley FC
Marlon Pack — Portsmouth Captain
Kenwyne Jones — Former Premier League player, Coach

Their use and support of the author’s work reflects the practical focus behind the books:

Football ideas that can be understood, applied and developed.

WRITTEN FROM THE PROFESSIONAL GAME

The author is a professional football coach and coach developer, bringing practical coaching experience and a passion for developing players into every practice.

The aim is simple:

Create better practices.

Create better learning environments.

Develop better players.

CREATE CHANCES. FINISH BETTER.

25 FINISHING PRACTICES

25 practical, tested finishing practices designed to develop players’ ability to create and convert goal-scoring opportunities.

Finishing.

Shooting.

Movement.

Attacking space.

Chance creation.

1v1s.

Combination play.

Crosses.

Both-foot finishing.

Finishing under pressure.

Decision-making.

Transitions.

Game understanding.

Professional coaching insight.

For coaches. Players. Coach developers.

25 practices. More chances. More decisions. More goals.

Create chances. Finish better.

Get your copy today.