The Best Examples of 3 Finishing Drills for Soccer (Plus Variations)

When coaches talk about the best examples of 3 examples of finishing drills for soccer, this is almost always in the conversation. It’s simple, repeatable, and brutally honest: either you hit the target, or you don’t.

Set up a goal with a goalkeeper, a cone about 12–16 yards from goal (top of the box), and two serving lines out wide. Players take turns receiving a pass or cross and finishing quickly.

How it works in practice
Instead of listing steps, picture this flow:

A winger starts wide on the right with a pile of balls. A striker stands near the penalty spot. The winger drives a firm pass into the striker’s feet; the striker finishes with one or two touches. After the shot, the striker loops out, resets, and the next ball is served from the opposite side.

Within five minutes, you have a steady rhythm: serve, finish, reset. No standing, no confusion.

Why this is one of the best examples of finishing drills for soccer

This drill is a perfect example of game‑realistic repetition. Players work on:

• First touch under mild pressure
• Quick decision‑making (one‑touch vs. two‑touch)
• Hitting the corners instead of blasting at the keeper

Modern finishing work in 2024–2025 leans heavily on short, intense bouts of activity. Sports science research consistently supports high‑intensity interval formats for conditioning and performance, especially when work looks like the sport itself. For general background on high‑intensity training and athlete health, you can see resources from the CDC and NIH.

This drill fits that mold: 20–30 seconds of high focus and effort, followed by a short rest as the next player goes.

Variations that create more real examples of finishing situations

To get more than just one example of this drill, tweak the rules:

One‑touch only
The coach calls out “one‑touch” before the serve. Now the striker has to adjust runs and body shape to finish first time. This mirrors cutbacks and low crosses at the pro level, where you rarely get time for a comfy two‑touch finish.

Weak‑foot round
Run a full round where players must finish with their weaker foot. It’s uncomfortable, which is exactly why it works. If you’re looking for real examples of finishing drills for soccer that actually improve weaker‑foot confidence, this is one of the fastest ways.

Timed competition
Split the group into two teams. Each player gets five reps. The team with the most goals wins. Miss the target completely? That shot doesn’t count. This instantly raises focus and simulates the pressure of needing to score late in a match.

Coaching points to emphasize

• Open the body when finishing across the keeper
• Keep the head still at the moment of contact
• Land on the striking foot to drive through the ball

These details are what turn a basic example of a finishing drill into a high‑quality scoring session.

2. Combination Play at the Top of the Box: A Tactical Example of 3 Examples of Finishing Drills for Soccer

The second of our examples of 3 examples of finishing drills for soccer adds something the first drill doesn’t: decision‑making with teammates. Modern attackers don’t just shoot; they combine, bounce passes, and create angles.

Here, you’ll work on one‑twos, lay‑offs, and finishing off movement around the D at the top of the 18.

Imagine three players: a central midfielder (server), a striker, and a winger. The ball starts with the midfielder 25–30 yards from goal. The striker checks toward the ball, lays it off, spins into space, and receives a through pass to finish.

Why this drill belongs in any list of the best examples of finishing drills for soccer

This drill mirrors the kind of combination play you see every weekend in professional leagues:

• Striker checks in, bounces the ball back
• Midfielder plays a quick one‑touch pass into space
• Striker finishes before defenders recover

In 2024–2025, you’ll see a big emphasis on position‑specific finishing. Forwards and attacking mids are expected to be comfortable with these quick combinations. Building this into your session gives players a clearer picture of how they’ll actually score in games.

For more on how skill acquisition and repetition affect performance, the Harvard Center on the Developing Child explains how repeated, meaningful practice shapes brain pathways—something that applies directly to learning finishing patterns.

Variations: more real examples of combination finishing

To turn this single pattern into multiple examples of finishing drills for soccer, rotate roles and patterns:

Wall pass with the winger
Instead of the striker combining with the central midfielder, have the striker play into the winger out wide, then spin into the channel between center back and outside back. The winger plays a slipped pass into that gap for a first‑time finish.

This gives wide players practice on:

• Weight of pass
• Timing of release
• Reading the striker’s run

Third‑man run
Add a second midfielder. The striker lays the ball off to Midfielder A, who plays a quick pass to Midfielder B making a run beyond. Midfielder B finishes.

Now you’re not just working on finishing—you’re training a pattern your team can actually use in the final third. These are the kinds of real examples coaches can draw on during games: “Remember the third‑man run pattern we worked on Tuesday? That’s the space I want you attacking.”

Add a passive defender
Place a defender near the top of the box with instructions to apply light pressure but not fully tackle. This forces attackers to:

• Take cleaner first touches
• Use body feints
• Decide faster when to shoot

Coaching points to emphasize

• Timing of runs: don’t go too early and end up offside
• Communication: a quick shout or hand signal for where the ball should go
• Finishing choices: laces for power from distance, inside of the foot when closer

These layers turn a simple pattern into one of the best examples of 3 examples of finishing drills for soccer, especially if you’re trying to link your training directly to your team’s attacking style.

3. Finishing Under Pressure: The Most Game‑Realistic Example of 3 Examples of Finishing Drills for Soccer

The third drill is where things get uncomfortable—and that’s good. Real games are messy. Defenders are chasing, touches aren’t perfect, and shots have to come off balance.

This drill focuses on finishing while being chased or closed down by a defender. If you’re looking for real examples of finishing drills for soccer that expose players to stress and chaos, this is it.

Picture two players starting side by side at midfield: an attacker and a defender. A coach or server plays a ball into space toward goal. The attacker sprints after it, with the defender chasing from slightly behind or to the side. The attacker has to control and finish before the defender can recover.

Why this is one of the best examples of finishing drills for soccer in 2024–2025

Modern match analysis shows that many goals come from transition moments—counterattacks, turnovers, and fast breaks. Players rarely get a clean, static shot. Instead, they’re sprinting, under pressure, and often finishing from slightly awkward angles.

This drill trains exactly that:

• High‑speed running with the ball
• Shielding and using the body to protect the ball
• Finishing on the run, sometimes with limited backlift

It also doubles as conditioning. For background on how high‑intensity efforts affect recovery and fatigue, resources like Mayo Clinic’s exercise guidance can help you think about balancing workload and rest in your weekly plan.

Variations: more examples include 1v1, 2v1, and angle changes

You can squeeze several more examples of finishing drills for soccer out of this one setup just by changing numbers and angles.

1v1 from the wing
Start attacker and defender near the sideline, 30–35 yards from goal. Serve the ball toward the corner of the box. The attacker must cut in or drive down the line and finish, while the defender tries to angle them away from goal.

This variation is gold for wingers and outside backs who often find themselves in these exact situations.

2v1 overload
Add a supporting attacker. Now you have two attackers against one defender sprinting toward goal. The finishing focus remains, but players also learn when to pass vs. when to shoot.

Real examples include:

• A cutback to the supporting runner
• A square pass across goal for a tap‑in
• A disguised shot when the defender expects a pass

Defender starting in front
Flip the script. Start the defender slightly ahead of the attacker, between the attacker and goal. The attacker must beat the defender (or create a shooting lane) and still finish.

This version forces creativity: stepovers, changes of pace, and quick shifts to create half a yard to shoot.

Coaching points to emphasize

• Attackers: get your shot off early; don’t dribble until the chance disappears
• Defenders: pressure the ball, but don’t overcommit and get beaten easily
• Goalkeepers: close the angle, but stay on your feet as long as possible

When coaches ask for an example of a finishing drill that really feels like a game, this is the one I point to.

How to Use These Examples of 3 Examples of Finishing Drills for Soccer in a Weekly Plan

The three drills above aren’t meant to live in isolation. The best examples of finishing drills for soccer are the ones you can plug into your season over and over with small tweaks.

Here’s how many coaches organize them across a typical week:

• Early week (lighter intensity): Combination Play at the Top of the Box with fewer defenders and more focus on technique.
• Midweek (moderate to high intensity): Classic Box Finishing with competitions, weak‑foot rounds, and one‑touch rules.
• Late week (match prep): Finishing Under Pressure with 1v1 and 2v1 transitions that mirror your game model.

For youth players, keep work periods short—no more than 60–90 seconds of continuous finishing, followed by rest. Research on youth sport participation and injury prevention, like that summarized by the NIH, supports a balanced approach: plenty of repetition, but not endless, fatiguing lines of shots.

You can also build position‑specific blocks:

• Forwards: all three finishing drills, but with extra reps in box finishing and pressure finishing.
• Wingers: more wide‑area versions of the first and third drills, focusing on cutbacks and far‑post finishes.
• Midfielders: combination play patterns, late runs onto cutbacks, and edge‑of‑box strikes.

More Real Examples of Finishing Drills for Soccer You Can Add

If you want to expand beyond the core examples of 3 examples of finishing drills for soccer, here are a few quick‑hit ideas you can plug into warm‑ups or cool‑downs:

Rebounder or wall finishing
Players strike the ball against a wall or rebounder from 10–15 yards and finish the return first time. This is a great solo or small‑group drill when space is limited.

Penalty‑box chaos drill
Toss multiple balls into the box with 4–6 attackers and 2–3 defenders. Attackers try to score off rebounds, loose balls, and deflections. This simulates scrappy set‑piece moments.

Cutback finishing pattern
Start with a wide player dribbling to the end line, then cutting the ball back to the penalty spot or edge of the box. A trailing runner arrives late and finishes first time.

Each of these gives you another example of how to create realistic scoring chances in training.

FAQ: Examples of Finishing Drills for Soccer

Q: What are some simple examples of finishing drills for soccer for beginners?
For newer players, start with the Classic Box Finishing drill: a pass into the striker’s feet and a simple shot on goal. Add a no‑pressure cutback drill from the wing and a rebounder or wall‑finishing drill. These examples include minimal decision‑making so players can focus on technique.

Q: Can you give an example of a finishing drill that improves weak‑foot shooting?
Run any of the three main drills as a “weak‑foot only” round. For instance, in the box finishing drill, serve balls so players naturally receive on their weaker side, then require them to finish with that foot. Scoring with the weaker foot is uncomfortable at first, but this is one of the best examples of targeted finishing work.

Q: How often should I use these examples of 3 examples of finishing drills for soccer in a training week?
Most teams benefit from finishing work at least twice per week. You might use the combination drill and box finishing earlier in the week, then finishing under pressure closer to match day. The key is short, high‑quality sets rather than endless low‑intensity shooting.

Q: Are these drills suitable for youth players as well as adults?
Yes. The same examples of finishing drills for soccer work across age groups. For younger players, shorten distances, reduce pressure from defenders, and keep instructions very simple. For older or higher‑level players, increase speed, add defenders, and demand one‑touch finishes more often.

Q: What equipment do I need for these examples of finishing drills?
At minimum: balls, cones, a goal, and ideally a goalkeeper. Mannequins or poles can stand in for defenders in the combination drill, but they’re optional. The real value comes from repetition and realistic movement, not fancy gear.

If you build these examples of 3 examples of finishing drills for soccer into your weekly routine—and keep tweaking them with the variations above—you’ll give your players exactly what they need: more confidence, more composure, and, ultimately, more goals.