Finishing

Three Goal Finishing Game

Finish in a game situation

Finishing

Small-Sided Games

Attacking

Premium

Three Goal Finishing Game is a 18-minute finishing drill for 6-16 players, suitable for Under 8 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, bibs, mini goals. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.

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Finishing

Small-Sided Games

Attacking

Small-Sided Game

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Full Squad

Foundation Phase

Youth Friendly

Adult Suitable

Goals Needed

Duration

18 min

Players

6-16

Pitch size

35 x 30 yards

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Three Goal Finishing Game — Finishing set-up — serve, receive, shoot · 35 x 30 yards

Step 1 of 3Teams may score in any of the three goals in front of them.

1. Teams may score in any of the three goals in front of them.
2. Shots must be from inside the shooting zone.
3. Four minute games, rest, repeat.

Cones mark the area
Mini 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

-Finish in a game situation
-Switch the attack to the free goal
-Create shooting chances quickly

Setup

1Three mini goals on each end line.
2Two teams, balls stored around the pitch.
3No keepers to encourage shooting.

Coaching instructions

1Teams may score in any of the three goals in front of them.
2Shots must be from inside the shooting zone.
3Four minute games, rest, repeat.

Coaching points

-Shoot early when the goal is open
-Move the ball to change the shooting angle
-Follow every shot for rebounds

Common mistakes

-Overplaying inside the shooting zone
-Ignoring the far goal
-No reaction to rebounds

Equipment needed

Balls

Cones

Bibs

Mini 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