Finishing
Finishing: From 1v1 to 3v3
Create your own shot in 1v1s and after combining in 2v2 and 3v3: take the first touch into space away from pressure and towards where you want to shoot, line your body up with the target, and use runs off the ball to drag defenders and attack the space in behind.
Live animation
Duration
20 min
Total drill time
Players
15
Recommended
Pitch
20 × 30 m
Setup space
Level
Intermediate
Skill required
Intensity
High
Physical demand
Age band
U11-U12
Any format
Setup & instructions
Put a full-size goal and keeper at one end and mark a 30 x 20 m area running from the goal line towards halfway. Place two mini-goals a few metres apart on the far line, facing the goal, and a cone a few metres behind them, midway between: the recovering defenders' station. Two teams of 7. Blue: three each side of the goal, one on the cone. Orange: two at each far corner, two between the mini-goals, one in the D. A coach with balls stands by the goal line. 1v1: the coach passes into the D and the first blue sprints out to close down; the attacker has three touches to shoot. 1v1 again: the first orange at the far corner plays a ball in, and the same attacker takes on the same defender with no touch limit. 2v2: the blue on the other side of the goal from the coach plays a straight ball to that corner player, and both join in, the attacker dribbling in. 3v3: the first orange between the mini-goals plays to the other corner player, who steps into the area to receive, and as he does the blue on the cone joins from behind. Then reset: the six go back to the back of their queues. Swap the teams' roles halfway, so everyone attacks and defends.
Setup time: 5 min
Tactical breakdown
This practice comes from FIFA's Talent Coach Programme on the FIFA Training Centre. It is built around one idea: a finisher has to make his own chance, first on his own and then with team-mates, as the numbers around him grow within a single rep.
It starts with a 1v1. The coach serves the attacker in the D while a defender sprints out from beside the post, and the attacker has three touches to shoot. The limit sets the tone: the first touch has to go into space, away from the pressure and towards where he wants to shoot, with his body lined up with that part of the goal. Then a corner player plays a second ball in and he takes on the same defender again, this time with no limit.
The 2v2 comes next. A defender from the other side of the goal plays a straight ball out to the corner player and both join in. Now the attacker in the D becomes the runner: he offers short, then spins in behind, and the carrier slides it through. Runs off the ball are what make this work, dragging defenders away so the carrier can drive into the space or cut inside.
The 3v3 is the last step. A player between the mini-goals plays the other corner player in, and as he receives, a recovering defender sprints on from behind. Parallel runs and wall passes attack the space behind the defence before that defender can get back.
FIFA puts the whole thing in and around the penalty area so the attackers are always close enough to shoot, asks the defenders to be aggressive, and has every player attack and defend. The reset, team swap and progressions here are our additions.
How to run this drill
- Set up the area. Mark 30 x 20 m from the goal line towards halfway, with a full goal and keeper, two mini-goals on the far line and a recovering defenders' cone behind them. Two teams of 7.
- First 1v1, three touches. The coach passes into the attacker in the D and the first defender sprints out to close him down. The attacker has three touches to get the shot away.
- Second 1v1, no limit. The first corner player plays a ball in, and the same attacker takes on the same defender again with no touch limit.
- 2v2. The defender on the other side of the goal plays a straight ball to that corner player. Both join in, the attacker dribbling into the area, for a 2v2.
- 3v3 with a recovering defender. A player between the mini-goals plays the other corner player in. As he receives, the defender on the cone sprints on from behind to make it 3v3.
- Reset and swap. After the 3v3 the six players go to the back of their queues. Swap the teams' roles halfway through so everyone attacks and defends.
Coaching focus
FROM SESSION PLANCoaching points
- First touch into space, away from the pressure, keeping the ball within striking distance
- Take the first touch towards where you want to shoot, and line your body up with that part of the goal
- Be bold: drive at the defender and shoot, even without a full sight of goal
- Off the ball, drag defenders away so the carrier can drive into the space or cut inside
- Offer short, then run in behind: a parallel run gains you a yard on your defender
- Use a wall pass to attack the space in behind
- Defenders: sprint out and close down, every rep
Common mistakes
- A square or heavy first touch that runs into the defender or out of range
- Taking a fourth touch in the first 1v1 instead of getting the shot away
- Supporting attackers standing still, so the defenders only have to watch the ball
- Two attackers running into the same space
- Shooting at the keeper instead of across him
- Defenders jogging out instead of sprinting to close down
Progressions & regressions
VARIATIONSProgressions
- Defenders who win the ball counter into either mini-goal
- Add offside off the last defender in the 2v2 and 3v3
- Three touches to shoot in every sequence, not only the first
- The next sequence starts as soon as the shot is taken, so the numbers pile up faster
Regressions
- The first defender starts from the post a second later, for more time on the ball
- Defenders passive in the first 1v1
- Play the 1v1s and the 2v2 only, and add the 3v3 later
- Widen the area to about 30 x 28 m, as FIFA's diagrams draw it
Explore more drills
LIBRARYReady to run this drill?
Save it to your private drills, then change the animation, adjust positions, swap equipment, or drop it into a session block. Or start from a blank pitch and build your own.