FIFA
#8 to 12

Combining, creating, and finishing goalscoring opportunities

FIFA, 08 Nov 2021

FIFA
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This session aims to improve the players' abilities to combine, create and finish goalscoring opportunities. Allowing players to play the exercises in handball format first helps them get a good grasp of the intended focus of the games before playing with their feet. The focus – to combine, to create and to finish opportunities – is introduced partially in the warm-up and is then expanded upon in the two exercises that follow.

Warm-up: 2v2 + 2 floaters, no goals, passing inside square

Organisation

  • Each pitch has three pairs of players. One pair are floaters.
  • This means that the pair without the ball are always outnumbered 4v2.
  • The pairs try to complete a certain number of passes to score a point.
  • Challenge them to make passes in different ways (e.g. throwing, volleys, headers, along the ground).

Ways to make the exercise easier

  • Restrict the "defending" pair to walking.

Ways to make the exercise harder

  • Require a higher number of passes to score a point.

Great questions to ask the players

  • Can you try to use all the space available?
  • How can you communicate effectively when you want to receive the ball?
  • Can you try to intercept the pass by predicting where it will go?

Safety tips

  • Create safe zones between each pitch.

Skill development: 3v3 + 2 target players on the goal lines

Organisation

  • Equal teams of 3v3 on the pitch; each team also has two target players positioned either side of the opponents' goal.
  • Each team plays a normal game, but should pass to a target player whenever possible.
  • The target player should then set up a shooting opportunity for his/her team.
  • Give all the players the chance to be target players.

Ways to make the exercise easier

  • The target players can roll or throw the ball.

Ways to make the exercise harder

  • Add goalkeepers (who should also be rotated).
  • Require goals to be scored in the air (i.e. from volleys or headers).
  • Require goals to be scored with first-time finishes.

Great questions to ask the players

  • When one of your target players has the ball, how can you create space to receive it back?
  • Can you think about the timing of your run to receive the ball?
  • When you defend near your goal, what do you need to do?

Safety tips

  • Create safe zones between each pitch.

Game application: 5v5 + 2 target players on the goal lines, 2 goals

Organisation

  • Equal teams of 5v5 on the pitch, including goalkeepers; each team also has two target players positioned either side of the opponents' goal.
  • Each team plays a normal game, but should pass to a target player whenever possible.
  • The target player should then set up a shooting opportunity for his/her team.
  • Give all the players the chance to be target players.
  • Also rotate the goalkeepers.

Ways to make the exercise easier

  • Play the game with no goalkeepers.
  • The target players can roll or throw the ball.

Ways to make the exercise harder

  • Require goals to be scored in the air (i.e. from volleys or headers).
  • Require goals to be scored with first-time finishes.

Great questions to ask the players

  • When one of your target players has the ball, how can you create space to receive it back?
  • Can you think about the timing of your run to receive the ball?
  • When you defend near your goal, what do you need to do?

Safety tips

  • Create safe zones between each pitch.

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