Finishing ability can make or break a youth forward’s impact on games. The difference between good forwards and great ones is what they do when they get in front of goal.
Training finishing skills helps players with more than just shooting. It builds composure under pressure, improves decision-making, and gives forwards the confidence to take on scoring responsibilities. A forward who knows they can finish chances will get into better positions and create more opportunities.
This post covers the key finishing drills that help youth forwards become reliable goal scorers. We’ll start with basic shooting technique and work up to game-like situations that prepare players for real matches.
Teaching Proper Shooting Technique
- Body positioning – Players should be balanced over the ball with their head steady and eyes focused on their target. The non-kicking foot goes right next to the ball, pointing toward where they want to shoot.
- Plant foot placement – The plant foot is critical for accuracy. Too far from the ball and players lose power. Too close and they can’t get clean contact. About 6-8 inches to the side of the ball works for most young players.
- Striking surfaces – Use different parts of the foot for different situations. The inside of the foot gives the most accuracy and is best for close-range shots or when placement matters more than power. The instep (where the laces are) generates more power and works well for longer shots or when you need to beat the goalkeeper with pace.
- Head position and follow-through – Players should keep their head over the ball during contact. Leaning back causes shots to go high, while getting too far forward makes the ball go into the ground. Practice hitting through the ball with a smooth follow-through toward the target.
Start with stationary balls before adding movement. Players need to master the basic technique before dealing with balls that are rolling or bouncing. Once they can hit stationary balls accurately, then add the complexity of moving balls.
Teach players to pick their spot before shooting. Don’t just blast the ball at goal and hope for the best. Look at where the goalkeeper is positioned and aim for the opposite corner or low to either side where it’s harder to save.
Warm-Up and Accuracy Drills
Start every finishing session with dynamic warm-ups that prepare the legs and hips for shooting. Light jogging, leg swings, and walking lunges get muscles ready. Add some light juggling or passing to get comfortable with ball contact.
Pass and Finish Set up players 15 yards from goal. One player passes the ball to a teammate who takes one touch to set up and shoots with their second touch. Focus on clean first touches that set up good shooting angles.
This drill teaches the rhythm of receiving and finishing quickly. Most goals in youth soccer come from quick finishes after receiving passes, so this sequence is really important.
Target Zone Shooting Place cones in the four corners of the goal to create target zones. Players shoot from different spots and try to hit specific targets. Make it competitive by giving points for hitting different zones.
Start with bigger target zones and make them smaller as accuracy improves. This builds precision without worrying about power early on.
Progressive Shooting Start 12 yards from goal and take 5 shots. Move back to 18 yards and take 5 more. Finish at 25 yards. This teaches players how to adjust their technique for different distances.
Close shots need placement and quick release. Medium shots need a balance of power and accuracy. Long shots need good power but still require precision to beat the goalkeeper.
Game-Like Finishing Drills
1v1 Breakaway Drill Set up breakaway situations where forwards receive a through ball with only the goalkeeper to beat. Start the forward 25 yards from goal and play the ball into space for them to run onto.
This drill teaches composure in high-pressure situations. Forwards learn to stay calm, pick their spot, and finish confidently when they have a clear chance.
Add a chasing defender to increase pressure. The defender starts 5 yards behind the forward and tries to catch up. This creates urgency and forces quicker decision-making.
Finishing From Crosses Set up wide players to deliver crosses while forwards practice different types of finishes. Work on both ground crosses and balls in the air.
For ground crosses, forwards should focus on first-time finishes or quick touches to redirect the ball. For aerial crosses, practice both headers and volleys depending on the height of the delivery.
Vary the timing of runs so forwards learn when to arrive at the near post, far post, or penalty spot. Different cross deliveries require different positioning and timing.
Rebound Finishing Have a coach or player take shots that the goalkeeper will likely save or parry. Forwards practice following up on rebounds and loose balls in the penalty area.
This drill teaches forwards to stay alert after shots and be ready for second chances. Many youth goals come from rebounds because goalkeepers at this level give up more second chances.
Quick Reaction Shooting Roll or toss balls into the penalty area from different angles. Forwards have to react quickly and shoot before the ball stops moving. This builds the quick reflexes needed for scrambles in front of goal.
Use both feet and practice different types of finishes – low shots, high shots, near post, far post. The unpredictability helps forwards learn to adapt their technique quickly.
Building Composure and Decision-Making in Front of Goal
Shoot or Pass Drill Set up 2v1 situations in the penalty area where forwards have to decide whether to shoot or pass to their teammate. This teaches decision-making under pressure and helps forwards recognize when they have good scoring chances.
Give players specific guidelines – if the goalkeeper is close, look for the pass. If the goalkeeper is far from goal or off their line, take the shot. This helps remove guesswork from decision-making.
Timed Finishing Challenges Create scenarios where forwards have limited time to shoot. For example, play a ball into the box and count down from 3 seconds. This builds urgency and helps players shoot quickly without rushing their technique.
Start with longer time limits and gradually decrease them as players get more comfortable. The goal is quick decisions and clean finishes, not panicked shots.
Scan and Shoot Before receiving the ball, forwards must look around and identify the goalkeeper’s position. They should know where they’re going to shoot before they get the ball.
This drill builds the habit of gathering information before shooting. Players who scan early make better decisions and are less likely to shoot directly at the goalkeeper.
Practice this with defenders applying pressure so forwards learn to scan quickly and still execute their finish. In games, there’s rarely time for long looks at the goal.
Help Your Forwards Score More Goals
Good finishing skills come from regular practice with proper technique. Youth forwards who work on these skills consistently become more dangerous in front of goal and help their teams win more games.
The key is combining technical work with realistic game situations. Players need to master the basics first, then practice using those skills when defenders and goalkeepers are trying to stop them.
Make finishing practice a regular part of training, not just something you do occasionally. Forwards who practice shooting multiple times per week develop the muscle memory and confidence needed to score when it matters.
Want to help your young forward sharpen their finishing skills? Athletes Untapped connects players with experienced private coaches who can focus on goal-scoring technique and match preparation. Browse our soccer coaches or check out our blog on soccer shooting drills for accuracy for even more training ideas.
