Football (soccer) drill library: Scoring
Scoring is the core of football (soccer). Exercises that focus on scoring are often popular among players.
Drills: Scoring
Deceive the Catchers and Shoot
Attackers start from the edges of the area near the cones and try to dribble out of the area through the sides closest to the goals without losing the ball. If an attacker manages to exit the area with the ball, they must shoot before crossing a marked line (e.g., indicated by cones). Catchers are not allowed to move outside the designated area. After each attempt (goal scored/shot taken or ball lost), players return to their starting cone to collect a new ball from the pile. The coach and/or support staff return the balls to the starting positions. Competitions: Individual competition: Which attacker scores the most goals (e.g., 2 minutes, 1 point per goal). Team competition: Which team scores the most goals.
Game: Shoot Before the Center Line
Small field, lots of shots and goals, shoot before the center line! The game starts with a goalkeeper's opening. Only one player from the defending team is allowed to press in the attacking team's half, so the situation is 2v1 (3v1 when the goalkeeper is involved). The attacking team must shoot from their own area before the center line! If the defender manages to steal the ball, the other initially defending team players can join the attack, and the situation is played normally as 3v3 until the end. The attacking team can be changed, for example, by having one team attack consecutively as long as they succeed in scoring. You can also change after each situation, or the coach can pass a new ball into play to the goalkeeper, from whose side a new situation starts. The goal is to keep the game fast-paced.
Scoring in Traffic
Divide players into four lines, with the first in each line starting simultaneously. Cones are placed randomly in the middle, at distances that allow dribbling through between the cones. The goal is to weave through the cones without hitting any cone or other players. If successful, the player can proceed to score (either goal is okay). If they collide or lose the ball, they must return to their line. The next player from each line can be instructed to start, for example, when the previous one has reached the middle to weave. Can be competitive, for example, which line scores the most goals in three minutes?
Progression 2v1
The drill is played with two teams. Players stand in lines near one of the sidelines. The coach shouts or shows a color, according to which two players from that team begin to move, and one player from the opposing team starts defending. The first player of the team goes around the farther cone. The second player of the team, who has the ball, goes around the closer cone. The goal is to progress together and bypass the defender, after which they try to score a goal.
2v1
Drill: 2v1 Three lines and the first player from each line starts moving. The wide players are attackers and the middle one is a defender. The situation begins with a goalkeeper's pass to the defender in the middle. The defender passes to the attacker on the wing (red) and quickly moves to defend. Two attackers (red) aim to score quickly. If the defender wins the ball or the goalkeeper saves it, the defending team can transition and attack the other end. Rotate lines after each repetition.
Goal Scoring with Headers
Players are in two lines, with the first player from one line starting by running around cones. The second player in the line throws the ball in the air to the running player, who tries to head the ball into the goal. After this, the other line sends a player running. The positions of the lines can be varied, for example by placing the throwers in different corners of the field, such as next to the post or directly to the side. This adds variation to the heading practice with balls coming from different directions.
2v1+goalkeeper
The drill begins with the coach playing a through ball to the player in the middle line, who must finish with one touch. After the shot, the player from the middle line moves to defend against a 2v1 attack. The attackers are positioned at the outermost cones and receive the ball from the coach with a pass. If the defender wins the ball, they try to score in the goals located on the sides.
3v2 attack
The 3v2 situation starts with a build-up from the goalkeeper to an opponent player (can also be to a wide player). The purpose is to score a goal. If the defending team wins the ball, they try to score in two smaller goals. Keep the same defenders for multiple rounds for repetition purposes and then switch roles.
Goal Scoring from Crosses
The coach divides the team into two different colors (blue and red). 1. When the coach shouts, for example, "blue", one player from both teams starts weaving through the running sticks (or speed ladder) without a ball. 2. After weaving, the player passes the ball in front of them to their team's wide player. 3. The wide player makes a short pass to another player from the same team. 4. This player crosses the ball to the goal. 5. At the same time, the defending player from the red team tries to prevent the goal from being scored. This can also be done as one team, in which case one player still starts from both lines, but both try to score a goal.
3v2 with support players
In the penalty area, there are three attackers against two defenders and a goalkeeper. Outside the area, there are two attacking players who can be used to assist with crosses, but they are not allowed to enter the penalty area to play. The drill starts with a ball from the coach to the players in the penalty area, who primarily try to score a quick goal. The defenders press aggressively. When the defenders win the ball, they try to score in two small goals.
3v2 attack with crosses
The situation starts from the center line, from where a player begins dribbling the ball. The player must pass the ball to either wing, from where a player crosses the ball to the goal. At the goal, there's a 2v2 situation. The aim is to score a goal. After winning the ball, the defenders try to score in the small goals.
Finishing from through pass
1. The pass starts from the player with the ball (blue) from the cone to the player in front (red). 2. Red player passes back and starts making a circling movement around the yellow cone. 3. Blue player plays a through pass between the cones, to the side where the red player is moving. 4. Quick finish. The drill can also be used to practice the offside rule with the help of the cones.
1v1 --> 2v2 with goalkeepers
The drill begins with both goalkeepers playing passes, which are alternately sent to both flanks. 1v1 on the flanks: After the goalkeeper's pass, a 1v1 situation starts, where the goal is to score into the small goal in your own lane. Continuation situation in the center lane: The first player to score a goal immediately collects a new pass from their goalkeeper to the center lane and starts a new game there. At the same time, the second 1v1 situation on the flank continues until a goal is scored there as well. 2v2 in the center: When both 1v1 situations have been completed, the players who played on the flanks move to the center lane game, forming a 2v2 situation with goalkeepers.
Pass to the wing, cross and finish
1. Blue player passes to the red player in front of them. 2. Red player returns the ball to the blue player. 3. Blue player makes a longer pass into the path of the black wing player. 4. Black player crosses the ball to the goal area for the red player, who finishes. As a variation, the blue player can also join in to finish from the cross.
Pass and finish between defenders
The goal is to pass between the defenders to the attacker, who avoids the offside and finishes with one or two touches. The first pass can be preceded by e.g. a small dribbling course. Cones can be used as "defenders" in this drill.
2v2+goalkeepers with end players
2v2+goalkeepers+end players. The goal of the game is to pass to the end player, who tries to pass to the player on the field in a scoring position. Quick positional changes.
2v1+goalkeeper with run-around movement
In this drill, players practice the run-around movement in a 2v1 situation and aim to score. 1. The drill begins with the red player passing to one of the attacking players. 2. The attacking player (blue in the image) passes to their teammate at the adjacent cone. 3. The player who receives the ball (black) starts dribbling and the defender (red) begins pressing. The blue player makes a run-around movement by circling behind the black player's cone and offering a new passing option. The attacking player with the ball chooses between dribbling or passing.
Perception, passing, movement and finishing in 1v1 situation
1. Start: The drill begins with back-and-forth passing between the blue and black player. The red player is positioned behind the black player. The black player's task is to monitor the red player's movement and block the pass when the red player makes a lateral movement. 2. Movement and pass: The red player moves to the side, and the blue player observes this movement. The blue player's task is to pass the ball to the red player if the red player manages to get free. 3. Finishing: If the black player fails to block the pass, the red player receives the ball and executes a quick control and shot towards the goal. The objective is for the red player to move with proper timing and for the blue player to react to the movement by playing an accurate pass. The black player's task is to block the pass and prevent the red player from finishing.
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