Finishing

One On One With The Keeper

Stay composed in a 1v1 with the keeper

Finishing

Goalkeeping

Dribbling

One On One With The Keeper is a 15-minute finishing drill for 3-14 players, suitable for Under 8 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, full goals. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.

Back to drill library

Finishing

Goalkeeping

Dribbling

Skill Practice

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Full Squad

Foundation Phase

Youth Friendly

Adult Suitable

Goals Needed

Duration

15 min

Players

3-14

Pitch size

30 x 20 yards

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

One On One With The Keeper — Finishing set-up — serve, receive, shoot · 30 x 20 yards

Step 1 of 3Player drives at goal and finishes 1v1.

1. Player drives at goal and finishes 1v1.
2. Alternate central and angled starts.
3. Six repetitions each with rest.

Cones mark the area
Full goal
GK = goalkeeper
S = server
Ball
Dotted arrow = rotation between repetitions
Shooter becomes the next server
Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

-Stay composed in a 1v1 with the keeper
-Choose the right finish
-Attack the space at speed

Setup

1Starting cone thirty yards from goal, keeper on the line.
2Balls at the start cone.
3Cones marking the attacking channel.

Coaching instructions

1Player drives at goal and finishes 1v1.
2Alternate central and angled starts.
3Six repetitions each with rest.

Coaching points

-Look up early to see the keeper's position
-Take the ball out of the feet before the finish
-Pick a side and commit

Common mistakes

-Rushing the shot from too far
-Slowing down and letting the keeper set
-Always choosing the same finish

Equipment needed

Balls

Cones

Full Goals

Age groups

Under 8

Under 9

Under 10

Under 11

Under 12

Under 13

Under 14

Under 15

Under 16

Adults

Progressions

+Two-Touch Limit: drop to one touch in the central area
+Weak Foot Only: add a defender to raise the pressure
+Tempo Clock: cut the clock to four seconds
+Add a competitive scoreline for the last round

Regressions

-Two-Touch Limit: allow three touches while the picture is learned
-Weak Foot Only: static, unopposed reps before adding movement
-Tempo Clock: extend the clock to ten seconds
-Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

-Two-Touch Limit — Players are limited to two touches — one to control, one to release.
-Weak Foot Only — Every touch, pass and finish must be with the weaker foot.
-Tempo Clock — The ball must reach the end action inside six seconds or the rep restarts.
-Scan and Cue — The coach shows a colour or number and the receiver must call it before their first touch.
-Shadow Pressure — A shadow defender applies half pressure and can win the ball only after the first touch.
-Score Challenge — Run it as a timed competition — pairs or teams count successful reps and compare scores.
-1-to-1 Session — Run as an individual session: coach serves, one player works through the reps with rest built in.
-Flip the practice to the opposite side of the pitch