Finishing is the act of striking the ball when
scoring. To win the game a team must score so do not neglect finishing,
however do not
over-emphasize
finishing. Until a team
can possess and understand the principles of possession such as playing away
from pressure, or until they are skilled with technical aspects of the game
such as dribbling and passing and receiving, it may be better not to focus
on finishing. However, once a team has the ability to possess
they have the ability
to
score
so they should be trained on how
to score properly.
There are many ways to score. The most common are finishing
from distance with a power shot, finishing from close range with accuracy
and precision, and finishing out of the air off a service (pass). Each
type of the finish is unique in and of itself and each one is dangerous in
its
own way. A team that can finish each way is simply more dangerous than
a team than is one dimensional in scoring abilities. A team with a striker
who can beat anyone one versus one and finish with accuracy is great, however
if he is the only option shutting him down becomes much easier as marking
with two players is a quality tactic to employ. But if that striker can
place
a well served ball to a center midfielder who can finish from distance
with power or serve a ball that can be finished in the box out of the air,
that
team is far more dangerous and far more difficult to mark.
Finishing with power
Finishing with power gives the attacker the ability to score from distance.
It is technically challenging as it requires great accuracy with skilled placement.
To finish with power requires
that the
shooter
strike
the
ball with
force
and place iton goal away from the keeper. It is quite difficult, however
with proper training a team can learn to do this well.
When finishing with
power the shot is very similar to serving a hard driven long ball. The body
approaches the ball and the planter foot plants to the side of the ball.
The striking leg begins the backswing as the ankle locks. The swing begins
and
the head moves over the ball as weight is transferred forward and the opposite
arm begins to swing across the body. As the foot strikes the ball the toe
needs to be pointing down allowing the laces to strike the ball. The ankle
needs
to remain locked and the knee should be over the ankle just in front of the
ball, while the arm continues its arc ending across the body. The follow
thru begins after the strike with the weight transferring through the ball.
As the
follow through ends, weight should be transferred to the striking foot and
the landing should take place on the striking foot.
The ball should rise gently off the ground. As the
players improve, inside of the foot bending
balls and outside of the foot bending balls can be added to training. To bend
the ball simply strike the ball with the inside or outside of the foot following
thru
in an
arc and
the ball with curve inwards using the inside of the foot, or outwards using
the outside of the foot. So to finish with accuracy, training should include
the following:
1. Plant the planter foot to the side and parallel with the ball
2. Get your weight over the ball
3. Get a good backswing
4. Lock the ankle
5. Point the toe down to strike with the laces
6. Align the knee head and toe just in front as you strike the ball.
7. Follow thru lifting the head driving the ball off the ground with pace.
Finishing with accuracy
When a player is skilled in the one versus one encounter and can take a player
on and beat him often they end up inside the eighteen with the ball on their
foot. When a team is skilled in possessing this is often the case as well.
Finishing when inside of twelve yards is far different than outside of that
range. Since the player is far closer the power needed is not as severe and
rather placement takes precedence over power. Nothing looks nicer than
a hard driven ball placed in the back of the net from 8 yards away making
the net ripple, however placement for accuracty is a better choice. Nothing
looks more foolish than missing or popping a ball
over
the
crossbar
when inside of five yards. So when near the goal emphasize accuracy over power.
To finish with accuracy much of the fundamentals remain the same.Weight should
be over the ball with the ankle locked. As the leg swings forward,
instead of stiking
the ball as hard as possible with the laces open up the ankle to use the
inside of the foot. Strike the ball with the inside of the foot placing the
ball away
from the keeper, aiming for the side net. There still must be pace on
the ball, simply not as much as a hard driven ball.
When finishing off a pass with accuracy, as the ball arrives let it roll across the standing leg to the foot away from where the pass came from. Let the hips open up and the ankle open up. As the ball rolls across the standing leg begin the forward motion striking the ball with the inside of the foot placing the ball away from the keeper.
Finishing off the serve: volleys out of the air and on the ground
Finishing off the serve can take place off of corners, sets or simply served
balls from the wings. A team that can finish off the serve is quite dangerous
as this is often the easiest way to place a ball in a scoring position. If
the finish is a direct volley out of the air on a first touch be sure the body
is prepared before the ball arrives. The body preparation is similar to that
of a finishing with accuracy, however the ball is in the air. Learn to track
the ball out of the air and begin the swing of the leg as the ball arrives.
As it arrives
lean back just a bit keeping the ankle locked and the foot open striking the
ball with the inside of the foot. When finishing with power out of the air
it is very similar to finishing with power on the ground except the ball must
be hit out of the air.
Just because the ball is in the air, however, does not mean it must be finished out of the air. Teach your players to also clean the ball up with a quality reception of a flighted ball, then to finish with accuracy or power as described above. Finally a finish of the serve can be done with the head. Training this is important and is discussed in heading on the attack.
So when finishing off the serve be sure to either strike the ball well out of the air or to clean it up and then have a quality finish with power or accuracy.
Finishing one v one:
Finishing in a one versus one situation happens in the attacking third when
a player has one player to beat to get to goal. At younger ages an emphasis
should be placed on taking defenders on and trying to beat them to score. This
is a skill that is a cornerstone of the game and should be encouraged.
Teach players to aggressively attack the goal and to go at the defenders.
Proper decision making about going one v one versus connecting a pass must
be made,
however younger players should be given constant encouragement in this area.
As they grow older, learning when to connect the pass versus when to take
on a player will become more important.
Finishing with back to goal:
Finishing with back to goal is the process of turning after receiving in
front of the goal. Skilled strikers can turn and finish in one motion. A player
that can turn a defender and finish is a very dangerous player; one that cannot
be ignored. Teaching this skill will lead to dangerous scorers that can finish
when in front of the net.
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