Core Topic 4: Finishing

Module: Master The Ball: 1-11 Years Old Classroom: Use The 360TFT Game Model

TLDR

Finishing is one of the most exhilarating parts of the game and one of the hardest to master. For young players, learning how to strike the ball with intent, accuracy, and variety isn’t just about scoring goals, it’s about developing confidence in the most pressurised moments. At ages 0-11, I’m not chasing screamers from the edge of the box but building a complete picture of how to finish.

Finishing deserves its own focus because players remember their misses, technique breaks down under pressure unless shaped through repetition, and confidence grows with consistency. It’s the culmination of everything: movement, control, decision, and execution.

I introduce a range of finishing techniques, including one-touch finishing, placed vs power choices, finishing with both feet, finishing under pressure, back-to-goal finishing, aerial finishing, and creative finishing. The variety isn’t just about technique, it’s about developing players who can solve problems when they’re one action away from a goal.

Great finishers aren’t built in front of empty nets but in environments that replicate the game through progressive pressure, contextual finishing, mistake-tolerant environments, and emphasis on first touch and set-up. My job isn’t to chase perfection but to nurture repetition and clarity.

I support players to choose the right finish for the moment, stay composed even when the ball bounces, and recognise the value of both goals and good decisions. I’m not just building goalscorers but players who know how and when to finish.

“No technique matters more when the scoreline’s on the line.”

Finishing is one of the most exhilarating parts of the game - and one of the hardest to master. For young players, learning how to strike the ball with intent, accuracy, and variety is not just about scoring goals - it’s about developing confidence in the most pressurised moments.

At this stage of development (ages 0-11), we’re not chasing screamers from the edge of the box. We’re building a complete picture of how to finish - how to select the right technique, stay calm, and repeat success.

Why Finishing Needs Its Own Focus

Finishing is often left to the end of a session, rushed or thrown in as a treat. But it deserves more.

Here’s why:

Players remember their misses. If they don’t learn how to finish well early, they carry hesitation with them.

The pressure is different. In front of goal, technique breaks down unless it’s been shaped through repetition.

Confidence grows with consistency. The more they see the net ripple, the more they believe they can do it again.

Finishing is the culmination of everything - movement, control, decision, and execution. We coach it like it matters, because it does.

What Players Learn in This Topic

We introduce a range of finishing techniques that give players tools to express themselves in different match situations:

One-Touch Finishing - Rewarding movement and preparation, not just striking.

Placed vs Power - Teaching players how to make a choice, not just hit and hope.

Finishing with Both Feet - Developing balance, comfort, and adaptability.

Finishing Under Pressure - Building composure in chaos - opponents, rebounds, tight angles.

Back-to-Goal Finishing - Using disguise, timing, and turns in tight spaces.

Aerial Finishing (Volley, Chip) - Coordinating eye, body, and timing in fast-moving moments.

Creative Finishing - Allowing space for instinct and flair.

The variety isn’t just about technique - it’s about developing players who can solve problems when they’re one action away from a goal.

How We Coach It

Great finishers aren’t built in front of empty nets. They’re built in environments that replicate the game.

Progressive Pressure - We introduce technique without defenders, then layer in pressure.

Contextual Finishing - All finishing should come with a decision. Is it a 1v1? Is the angle tight? Is there time?

Mistake-Tolerant Environments - Players must know they can miss - and go again. That’s where confidence is built.

Small Touch, Big Impact - Emphasis on first touch and set-up - not just the final strike.

And just like every topic in this course, it spirals. A session from Week 2 might return in Week 14 - but under a different condition or in a different moment of the game.

Your Role as Coach

In finishing sessions, your job isn’t to chase perfection. It’s to nurture repetition and clarity.

Support players to:

That means asking the right questions:

We’re not just building goalscorers. We’re building players who know how and when to finish.

This content is part of the 360TFT Football Coaching Academy - Use The 360TFT Game Model