Is the defender getting there too early?
Six shots can tell you whether to move a cone. When a finishing drill stalls, watch when the shooting lane closes. Goals alone can hide a good first touch or a great save.
Watch six attacks
Try this with the 20-minute U12–U18 shooting drill. Start the defender five yards behind the attacker at an angle. Serve into the attacker’s path. Release the defender on the pass. Rotate roles after each attempt.
Ask an assistant or a waiting player to mark one result per attack. Across the next six, keep the goal, service and rotation the same so you can see what one adjustment does.
ULTRAIN Sports · Coach’s field card
Finishing under pressure
Mark one box per attack. Use a second copy for the next round.
| Outcome | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No shot | ||||||
| Shot blocked | ||||||
| Shot gets through |
- No shot. The defender wins the ball or forces the attacker out before a shot.
- Shot blocked. The attacker shoots and the recovering defender blocks it.
- Shot gets through. The ball clears the defender. Count it even if the keeper saves it or it goes wide.
One change for round two
Get the printable card (PDF)Choose one change for round two
Most attacks end before a shot. Hold the defender until the first touch. Can the attacker now move the ball far enough out of their feet to strike?
Most shots hit the defender. Keep the start positions. Ask the attacker to spot the defender’s shoulder before receiving and aim the first touch into the open lane. Look for a change in blocked shots.
Most shots get through without a challenge. Bring the defender one stride closer. If the keeper is making saves under genuine pressure, keep the setup and work on placement.
If the tally is split, run six more before changing anything. Use the count to make a coaching decision for this group today.
See the animated setup and player rotation