Drills / With a friend

First-time finishing

Your friend rolls the ball across in front of you and you finish without stopping it. Most goals in real games are scored with one or two touches.

Players
You and a friend, plus a goalkeeper if you have one
Space
A goal and 15 m in front of it
Kit
A goal (or two cones 4 m apart), 4 balls
Time
12 minutes
Age
Under-9s and older
YouF
  • Us
  • Them
  • Pass
  • Run
  • Dribble

Set up

  • You stand 10 m out, in line with the far post.
  • Your friend stands to the side with the balls, about 6 m away.

How it works

  1. Your friend rolls the ball across the front of you.
  2. Step in and strike it first time, aiming low for the far corner.
  3. Four balls, then swap. Count goals out of four.

What to work on

  • Watch the ball onto your foot, not the goal.
  • Inside of the foot for accuracy, laces for power. Accuracy first.
  • Get your standing foot level with the ball and your body over it, so the shot stays low.
  • Low and across the keeper is hardest to save.

Easier

Stop it with one touch, then shoot.

Harder

Your friend varies the speed and side of the roll, or the ball comes from behind you.

Skills this works on: striking with the laces. Each one has a close-up drawing of the feet.

Especially good for: striker.

Safety. No one stands behind the goal, and the person rolling stays out of the line of the shot. Keep shots low if a young goalkeeper is in goal.

Try next

Drills that work the same skills.