The goal poacher

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What this session is about

Scoring goals
Expecting the ball to arrive in the box
Reacting quicker than defenders

What to think about

A striker loves to score all types of goals. He is not fussy if it is a 30-yarder, a dribble past two players or a tap-in from close range. A poacher is always looking for ways to score and is constantly active and alert in the penalty area to any loose ball or opportunity that arises.

Set-up

Warm up	Session	Development	Game Situation	Warm Down
10 minutes	15 minutes	10 minutes	15 minutes	10 minutes

What you get your players to do

Two teams of five (blue and red) on a 25-yard square pitch. Have a big goal at each end with a mini goal six yards to the right hand side of both and facing inwards.

The teams line up on the touchline facing a mini goal with the big goal to their left. Each player has a ball. The aim is to be the first team to score 10 goals. Goals are scored in both the mini and the big goals.

To start, the first red player (R1) takes a touch and tries to score with a pass into the mini goal. The first blue player (B1) runs in and tries to slide or deflect the ball into the big goal (this slide replicates a forward running into the box to score from a driven cross).

Immediately after passing towards the mini goal, R1 runs towards the opposite goal and try to deflect B2’s pass into the goal.

The game continues until a team scores 10 goals. Switch ends and repeat the game.

R1 tries to score into the mini goal. B1 looks to deflect the ball into the big goal. R1 then runs down the other end as R2 attempts to score.

Development

Mark out a 40 x 30 yard pitch. Mark out two end zones of five yards and a central zone of 20 yards.

Play 3v3 in the central zone with each team having a wide player (W) standing to the side of the opponents’ five-yard zone.

To start with, goals can only be scored from the central zone.

When a goal is scored, the team is rewarded with a second ball from W who makes a quick cross into the opponents’ end zone. One forward is allowed to break out of the central zone unopposed to attack this cross.

After two minutes, rotate the wide player with one of the three attackers in the central zone.

Related Files

Advanced-291-the-goal-poacher.pdfPDF, 296 KB

Goals can only be scored from the central zone. Once scored, that team’s wide player (W) sends in a cross for an attacker to score from.

Game situation

Continue on the 40 x 30 yard pitch but now mark two gates on each team’s end zone lines. Play 4v4 in the central zone. Each team has two ways of scoring a goal.

With a shot from the central zone.
By dribbling through one of the wide gates to cross for a team mate who runs out of the central zone to attack the cross.

Goals can be scored from the central zone or when a player goes wide through the cones and crosses into the five-yard zone.

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Practice 4: Dribble to beat a player

Develop an attacker’s ability to take on a defender in a creative way, with turns added to the mix.

Practice 3: Dribble to beat a player

Develop an attacker’s decision-making and identifying the right times to take risks in 1v1s.

Practice 2: Dribble to beat a player

Develop an attacker’s ability to take on a defender who is approaching them from the side.

Practice 1: Dribble to beat a player

Develop an attacker’s ability to take on a defender who is directly in front of them and then shoot.

Coaches Testimonials

Gerald Kearney, Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club

"I have been coaching competitive soccer for over 20 years in Las Vegas. I feel like you are my personal club director. My players and myself have learned a lot from your sessions. The exercises from Soccer Coach Weekly are easy to understand and implement. I never run out of ideas and there is always an exercise for whatever problem we need to fix. Thank you!"

Paul Butler, Florida, USA

"First and foremost, Soccer Coach Weekly is truly unique and exceptional for its clarity and for explaining the "why?", in addition to the "how?". Soccer Coach Weekly is also professionally managed - any issues, which are infrequent, are resolved in an expedient and courteous manner. I place Soccer Coach Weekly at the top of my recommendation list for any new or seasoned coach of the beautiful game."

Rick Shields, Springboro, USA

"I coach both young club players as well as players at the High School level and both genders. The talent range is wide at times, however with the use of Soccer Coach Weekly I am able to apply the information to all talent levels and player ages and make the session fun and challenging for all players. It has helped spark me at times when I am at a loss for what to do at the next training session or offers a different approach to a current problem."

Tony Green, Pierrefonds Titans, Quebec, Canada

"My team and myself are truly enjoying the Soccer Coach Weekly downloads. Pierrefonds Titans are a great group of U16 Females who compete in the Lac St-Louis Association of Montreal, Quebec, Canada."

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