Week 9 · U12
Finishing & shooting
Objectives — what the players will do
- 1Strike through the middle of the ball with the laces for power
- 2Finish with composure while a defender closes in
- 3Time runs into the box to meet a pass or cross — near post, far post, or the penalty spot
Play 1 — starts when the second player arrives
3v3 Quick-Fire to Goal
Small games to real goals (use a rotating goalkeeper or a parent volunteer in goal). Balls stocked behind each goal so every finish restarts instantly — the aim is maximum shots in 15 minutes, not perfect soccer.
Practice — the one taught activity of the night
Race and Finish
Stage 1: attacker chases a through ball with a recovering defender on their shoulder and has 5 seconds to finish — composure at speed, pick your finish before you arrive. Stage 2: add service from wide — a teammate rolls or crosses the ball in, and two attackers time their runs to different spots: one near post, one far post or penalty spot. Rotate every role including the servers. Track finishes as a group score to keep energy high and pressure real.
Delay the recovering defender, allow extra touches, serve gentle ground balls.
Defender starts level with the attacker, or require one-touch finishes on all wide service.
Play 2 — always finish playing the real game
Target Scorer
Normal game, but each team quietly picks a Target Scorer whose goals count double. The other team has to work out who it is. Encourages creating chances for a teammate and disguising the plan — swap the target every few minutes so everyone gets the role.
Key coaching points — in your own words
- ·Corner or power — what is the goalkeeper giving you?
- ·The ball goes wide: which run do you make — near post, far post, or the spot?
- ·Defender on your shoulder: extra touch, or shoot now?
- ·One breath before the shot — what changes when you stay calm?
Defenders closer, less time, one-touch finishing rounds.
No defender, more time, bigger goals or closer range — stack early wins.
Game-day focus — watch for this on Saturday
Our striker plays alone up front in the 1-2-3-1, so goals come when midfielders arrive late into the box to join them. Watch for the second and third runners on every attack — and the instant we win the ball, look forward first: the quick transition is where most U12 goals live.
Message to forward to your parents
Your child is learning to finish under pressure. Composure in front of goal is a mental skill as much as a physical one — praise the calm decision, not just the goal.
This week's two videos
Prep the night before; copy the activity on the field.
Striking on the Laces | Improve your Shooting from Distance
Watch the night before to understand the idea
A clear technical breakdown of the laces strike — plant foot, lock the ankle, contact through the middle. Use it to build your Week 1 technique block before any pattern work begins. The slow-motion detail gives you the exact pictures to demo on the field.
Watch on YouTubeHigh Tempo, Competitive Finishing Exercises (Free Drills)
A drill you can copy on the field
Competitive finishing exercises with scoreboards, speed and consequence — the Challenge week in a box. Every rep is contested, so players finish under the pressure they'll feel Saturday. Run these Weeks 3–4 and track goals publicly; the 5 Second Rule applies the moment a finish is missed — win it back.
Watch on YouTube