Shooting In & Around The Penalty Area | Opposed / Skill (21-S1)

Phase 3: Finishing the Attack

Age Group 8+

Duration 60 minutes

Players 10+

This 60 minute, 2 Part session is the first in our Shooting In & Around The Penalty Area Coaching Theme, with a 1 v 1 and simple 2 v 1 overload practice.

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Free Soccer Drills

Opposed

21

Shooting In & Around The Box | Opposed (21-P3)

Set Up & Organisation
Practice 3 of Theme 21 Shooting in and around the penalty area, can be applied to players of all ages and focuses on movement to lose defenders and individual finishing technique. With the pitch split into 3 zones, 2 players attack and defend from balls passed in from one of 4 outside players. With a goalkeeper at each end, players must alternate attacks at each end. If the defender wins possession they must attack the other end becoming the attacker until dispossessed. Keep a tally of all goals scored and work 6 balls for each pair before rotating individuals.
 
 

21 P3 1

 

Progressions & Constraints
Progress the practice by allowing attackers to now enter the attacking zone to finish, triggering an outside player to press. If the new defender wins possession, they can pass to the original defender, who then attacks the opposite end.
 

21 P3 2

 
Key Coaching Points
  • Tactical | Double movement to lose defenders
  • Technical | Dribbling and RWTB speed and finishing
  • Physical | Speed to escape, agility to change direction
Key Coaching Questions
  • Where is the space to break into?
  • How can you create half a yard of space quickly?

 

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Free Soccer Drills

1 v 1

21

Shooting In & Around The Box | Skill (21-P2)

Set Up
Practice 2 in Theme 21 Shooting in and around the penalty area, develops short combinations to create 1 v 1s and 2 v 1 situations. We look at the quality of passes played, receivers first touch and speed of attacks.
 
 

21 P2 2

 

Organisation
Players must follow their pass moving onto the next station, with 2 defenders taking it in turns to defend in 1 v 1s; all players must work both ways. If attackers get past defenders they can finish, if defenders win possession they can score in the mini goal, replicating a pass out from the back.
 

21 P2 3

 
Key Coaching Points
  • Technical | Feint to get away from defender and finishing technique
  • Physical | Speed to accelerate away from defenders
  • Psychological | Remain confident throughout when driving at defenders
 
 

21 P2 4

 

Progressions & Constraints
We can progress to a 2 v 1 situation with an attacker playing up against a single defender working on hold up play and support. We maintain this rotation, allowing all players to play in different positions, with a real focus on timing of passes, forward runs and defender’s decisions to press.

 

 

Key Questions
  • What are the defenders weaknesses and how can you take advantage of these?
  • How do your decisions change in a 2 v 1 compared to 1 v 1 attacking?