Hit the Target

Composure in front of goal — pick your spot, keep it low, and make the keeper work every time.

Soccer
U12
60 min
12–18 players
1 coach
Effort 4/5
Half pitch with two goals
u12
finishing
shooting
crossing
composure

The PitchPlans coaching teamGAA Award 1 & 2 coaches

Kit: 12 footballs, 20 cones, two goals, bibs, keepers if willing

Warm-up8 min

Strike It Clean

Setup: Pairs about twelve metres apart, one ball, a cone goal between each pair. Spread across the area.

How it works: Firm side-foot passes through the little goal to start, focusing on a clean strike and a steady head. Then move to low driven passes with the laces, plant foot beside the ball. Every few goes, take a touch out of your feet first and then strike, the way you would in a game. Count clean strikes through the goal as a pair.

What to say

“Tell them: 'plant foot beside the ball, pointing where you want it to go.'”
“Say: 'head steady and eyes down as you strike, look up after.'”
“Ask for a low, firm ball — a keeper hates the one that stays down.”

Easier

Bigger goals and a rolling ball served by the partner.

Harder

Take a positive touch across your body first, then strike first time with the laces.

Activity14 min

Touch and Finish

Setup: A goal with a keeper. A server with the balls stands out wide, a shooting line about eighteen metres out. Cones mark where the touch is taken.

How it works: The server rolls a firm ball to the shooter, who takes one positive touch across their body into the shooting zone and finishes. Aim across the keeper into the far corner, low. Follow your shot in for any rebound. Right-side deliveries for a set, then left-side, so both feet get used. Rotate: shoot, fetch, join the server line.

What to say

“Say: 'first touch out of your feet and forward, not sideways, so you attack the goal.'”
“Tell them: 'across the keeper into the far corner — the hardest ball to save.'”
“Remind them to follow the shot in; the game rewards the player who gambles on the rebound.”

Easier

Take two touches to set the ball, and shoot from closer in.

Harder

One touch to set, one to finish, and call near or far post before you strike.

Activity14 min

Cutbacks and Crosses

Setup: A goal with a keeper. A wide player with a supply of balls on each side. Two attackers start central, about the penalty spot. Cones mark near post and far post runs.

How it works: The wide player drives to the byline and cuts the ball back, or clips it in. One attacker attacks the near post, the other holds for the far post or the cutback. Time the runs late so you arrive as the ball does. Alternate the crossing side and swap the attackers through. First-time finishes wherever possible; a tap-in at the back post is a great goal.

What to say

“Tell them: 'attack the ball, do not wait for it — meet the cross with pace.'”
“Say: 'one goes near, one stays far — do not both chase the same ball.'”
“Praise the unselfish square ball when a teammate has the simpler finish.”

Easier

Slower, floated crosses to a set spot so timing is easier to learn.

Harder

Add one recovering defender so the attackers must lose their marker to finish.

The rest of this session is free — along with 3 more this week.

PitchPlans coaching team

Free on PitchPlans — new sessions weekly.