Week 9 · U6
Finishing and shooting
Objectives — what the players will do
- 1Shoot the moment they see the goal
- 2Kick through the middle of the ball
- 3Chase the rebound and shoot again
Play 1 — starts when the second player arrives
Shooting Gallery
Balls everywhere, small goals open. Players shoot from wherever they like, fetch their ball, and shoot again — arriving kids join instantly. Every goal gets a "GOOOAL!" from the coach.
Practice — the one taught activity of the night
Monster in the Goal
Two goals, two monsters (coaches or parents). Players dribble from a cone and shoot past the monster, who blocks softly and falls over dramatically when beaten. Score, celebrate, fetch your ball, and join the other goal — a loop, never a line.
Send the monsters to sleep — empty-net party! Move the starting cones closer.
Monsters wake up and save more, or a puppy defender chases each shooter from behind.
Play 2 — always finish playing the real game
4v4 — Celebration Goals
Normal games, but every scorer performs a goal celebration and the whole team joins in. Encourage shots the moment kids see goal — no waiting for the perfect chance.
Key coaching points — in your own words
- ·See the goal? SHOOT!
- ·Kick through the middle of the ball.
- ·Missed? Great try — chase it and shoot again!
- ·Make up your own goal celebration!
Shots must come while dribbling at speed, or with the other foot.
Closer cones, bigger goals, no monsters — pure scoring joy.
Game-day focus — watch for this on Saturday
Every player takes at least one shot on Saturday — track it quietly and make it happen. Forwards AND defenders shoot in our diamond; rotate so everyone gets their scoring chance.
Message to forward to your parents
Goal-scoring week! Every child beat the monster in goal and invented a celebration. Ask for a demonstration — the celebration, especially.
This week's two videos
Every session is Play-Practice-Play: kids play from the moment they arrive, you teach ONE thing in the middle, then they play again. Watch the prep video the night before — the activity video is that middle PRACTICE part.
SoccerCoachTV - Try this Fun Shooting Game I did with Pentland Athletic FC in Scotland.
Watch the night before to understand the idea
A competitive race-to-finish shooting game that U8s treat like a World Cup final. Perfect Challenge-week material: two teams, live scoreboard, winners celebrate. In Week 4 let the kids run the scoring and just referee the joy.
Watch on YouTubeSoccerCoachTV - Fun 2 Way Shooting Game.
Your PRACTICE part — the one thing you teach mid-session
A two-way shooting game with fast turnarounds and constant repetitions. Use it in Weeks 2–3 and layer in your Develop-stage constraints: score in a corner zone, or finish with the weaker foot to count double. Keep the pace high so the ignite energy never drops.
Watch on YouTube