Target finishing

By Mike Vincent (US Varsity/High School coach)

The use of target players produces an offensive practice that's designed to encourage shooting.

How to play it

• Set up as shown in the diagram, using half a pitch. There are two teams of four, a neutral player on each flank, plus two target players to the side of each goal.
  
• Target players may not enter the field of play but can move along the goal line.
  
• Only neutral wingers can play in the wide corridors. These players can pass infield, to the target players of the team in possession, or can switch play between one another.
  
• Infield players can work together or lay passes to neutrals, but must link with a target player when shooting at goal.
  
• Each goal is worth one point, with the exception of goalscoring headers and volleys which are worth two (though must still be set up by target players).
  
• Play for five minutes then players swap positions.
  

Technique and tactics

• When players cannot lay direct passes to target players, they must use the width provided by the neutrals.
  
• Attackers must time and angle their runs to get in front of and/or sometimes behind opposing defenders to score.
  
• Target players should maintain the momentum of the attack and speed of play by playing first-time passes and/or crosses into the path of their attacking team mates. This rehearses attackers in being alert and prepared to follow up on rebounds.

Advancing the game

• Add neutral players inside the area.
  
• Alternatively allow infield players to pass to neutral wingers then enter the wing corridors by overlapping them before crossing.
• Or goals scored after a five-pass combination that includes all team mates and both target men earns three points.