Scoring when it is not easy — shooting off both feet, on the move and with a defender breathing down your neck.
Cool Head, Quick Shot
- Gaelic football
- U14
- 60 min
- 16–24 players
- 2 coaches
- Effort 4/5
- half pitch with posts
- u14
- shooting
- scoring
- both-feet
- pressure
Kit: 24 cones, 12 balls, posts or two 4m cone goals, 16 bibs (2 colours)
Rhythm Shooting
Setup: Two lines feeding a goal from about twenty metres, a supply of balls, keeper optional.
How it works: Players jog in, take a hand-pass from the feeder, steady, and strike a point off the correct foot for their side — the right line off the right foot, the left line off the left. No pressure yet, just clean rhythm and a full follow-through. Rotate quickly and retrieve your own ball. It grooves the shooting action off both feet before pressure is added.
What to say
- “Balance first — set the standing foot beside the ball, pointing at the target.”
- “Head steady, eyes on the target, strike through the middle of the ball.”
- “Follow through toward the posts — finish tall.”
Easier
Shoot from a standing start, closer in.
Harder
Shoot first-time off the feed without steadying.
Beat the Clock Shot
Setup: A shooting arc at about sixteen metres, small groups with a feeder each side of the goal, keeper in.
How it works: The player receives and must get a shot away within three seconds while a passive defender closes them down — the clock forces a quick, composed decision. A score off the correct foot for the angle is two, the wrong foot one, blocked or wide is nothing. Rotate through fast so everyone shoots plenty. It builds the habit of getting the shot off before the tackle arrives, without rushing the technique.
What to say
- “Know your shot before the ball arrives — picture it early.”
- “Quick feet to set, then a calm strike — hurry the feet, not the head.”
- “If the defender blocks the near side, open your body to the far foot.”
Easier
Defender starts further away; four seconds; either foot scores the same.
Harder
STEPR: two seconds; defender applies real pressure; must use the correct foot.
Two-Sided Finishing
Setup: A goal with feeders on both wings, cones marking a run channel in from each side, keeper in.
How it works: The player makes a diagonal run, takes a pass from the wing feeder, and finishes first-time or after one steadying touch — from the right wing off the right foot, from the left wing off the left. Alternate sides each go so both feet get equal work. Keep a group tally of scores off the weaker foot to make them value it. Fast rotation, no queues.
What to say
- “Attack the ball on the move — meet it, do not wait for it.”
- “Open the body to the wing the pass comes from — it lines up the correct foot.”
- “Low and early over the bar beats blasting it.”
Easier
Take two touches; shoot from closer.
Harder
STEPR: first-time finishes only; add a recovering defender.
Pressure Scores Game
Setup: A 40×30m attacking-zone game to one goal with a keeper, 4v4 plus a keeper, feeders to recycle balls.
How it works: Attackers work the ball for a shot inside the zone; defenders press and block. A score counts double if it is taken first-time or off the weaker foot, rewarding brave, quick finishing under real pressure. A new ball goes in the moment one goes dead to keep the tempo high. Swap attack and defence every few minutes. This is match-realistic scoring with tired legs and a defender in your face.
What to say
- “Shoot when the window opens — a half-yard is enough, do not wait for perfect.”
- “Move the defender with a fake, then shoot into the space you made.”
- “Follow every shot in — the rebound is a free score.”
Easier
4v3 for the attackers; any score counts; bigger goal.
Harder
STEPR: a three-pass minimum before a shot; every shot must be first-time.
Steady the Breathing
Setup: Circle up.
How it works: Walk two widths, then a stretch twenty seconds each, calves, quads, hip flexors and hamstrings. Talk about how the best shooters look calm because they decided early. Finish with the question.
What to say
- “Slow the breathing, long breath out.”
- “Loosen the kicking hip and hamstring.”
- “Calm shooters decide early — picture the score before it comes.”
Ask the players: Ask what helped you most under pressure tonight — quick feet, deciding early, or using the right foot. Take three answers, then balls in.
PitchPlans coaching team
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