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A young player uses the inside of her foot to send an effort towards goal from close range during a match on an indoor 3G pitch.
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How to coach players on finishing in football

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of scoring a goal. So how can you help your players master the art of finishing? This article breaks it down.

Attacking
Coaching
Finishing
Session design
England Football Learning logo on a red background.

England Football Learning

5 mins - Sep 30, 2022

Finishing is scoring goals. It’s every player’s favourite part of the game.

Whether it’s a 30-yard strike into the top corner, a tap-in with the instep, or a volley from a cross, goals win matches. By helping players master finishing, you increase the chance that good play gets the reward it deserves.

There are many ways to finish. Each technique suits different situations.


Simple to execute but delivering lots of power, these basic techniques are popular with young players:

  • Toe poke: Using the toe of the shoe to shoot.
  • Laces: Striking the ball with the top of the foot, where the laces are.

Then, as players gain more experience, they these more advanced finishing techniques.


Side-foot place

Probably the most common finish, a side-foot place involves striking the ball with the inside of the foot. What it lacks in power, compared to other finishes, it makes up for in accuracy.


Volley

A volley is when a player strikes the ball as it’s dropping out of the air. If they hit it on the bounce, it’s a half volley. This technique requires precise timing and positioning.


Instep

The instep is the arched part of the top of the foot, between the laces and the side. Striking the ball here allows players to apply curl. If your players are gamers, they might recognise this as a ‘finesse shot’ in video games.


Chip

This technique involves making contact with the ball underneath to send it over the goalkeeper’s head. It requires a lot of skill to get right. Watch Ella Toone doing just that in the 2022 UEFA European Women’s Championship final.


Dribble around the goalkeeper

Players with great composure and dribbling skills can draw the keeper in with small touches and then push the ball around them at the right moment. Timing is key.

With so many skills involved in finishing, where do you start? The key is giving players plenty of practice.


Maximise time on the ball by splitting your team into smaller groups. Give each group their own goal to practise finishing. No spare goals? No problem. Use cones or even jumpers instead. Save time chasing balls by positioning goals next to a fence, net, or verge to bounce the ball straight back.


Aim to make your practices realistic to the game to get players match-ready. Here’s how:

  • Include other key skills: Finishing isn’t just about shooting. Players must also scan the pitch, time it right, control their movements, position themselves well, and even use deception. Build these elements into your practices.
  • Shoot from close to the goal: Around 60–70% of goals in senior football are scored from inside the 18-yard box. Be sure to set up practices within this range.
  • Consider touches: While professional footballers often score with first-time finishes, younger players usually need more touches to get ready to shoot. So, think about using activities that allow players to finish unopposed to begin with, giving them plenty of chances to practise different amounts of touches and techniques. Then add opposition when they're ready for that challenge.
  • Introduce overloads: In attacking situations, defenders usually outnumber the attackers. So, when your players grow more confident, try using defensive overloads to better replicate game scenarios.
  • Work on assists: Around 70–75% of goals in the senior game are assisted. Design practices that help players set their teammates up to finish, including different types of assists like passes and crosses.

Consider the core capabilities

It takes time to develop finishing. With younger players, the game can look chaotic, with everyone swarming the ball and relying on toe pokes or laces for every shot.


Embrace it. Meet your players where they’re at, building confidence in the basic finishing techniques first. You may need to hold off adding defenders to practices until players are ready. And encourage them to shoot from closer to the goal.


As your team gains more experience, start working on more advanced finishes and involve defenders to increase the difficulty.


But keep in mind that for players of any age, lining up for a shot with everyone watching can be daunting. It’s also not realistic to the game. And it reduces the amount of repetition players get at finishing. So, provide alternative ways to practise finishing, like 2v2 and 3v3 games. Or try our five goals, five ways practice.

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