Feint and Shoot Training
Two lines work at once. One dribbles in a zig-zag through cones and shoots at goal, and the other runs a pole slalom and strikes a ball first time from the edge of the area.
- Objectives
- Technical: Improve finishing, Improve dribbling
- Physical: Improve agility
- Concepts
- Focus and load
- Technical5/5
- Tactical2/5
- Physical4/5
- Format
- Circuit
- Approach
- Intermediate
- Age
- U13–U14
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Players
- 9–20
- Duration
- 20 min
- Area
- 30 × 20 m
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Goalkeeper
- Run without ball
- Dribble
- Shot
- Ball
- Cone
- Goal
- Pole
Objective
Make feints and changes of direction with the ball at speed, and improve shooting accuracy after a dribble and when striking first time.
Organisation
- Mark a 30 × 20 m area with four cones.
- Place two 3 m goals on one short side, 10 m apart, with a goalkeeper in each.
- Line 1 (top): place four cones in a zig-zag between 11 and 23 m from the goal, about 4 m apart.
- Mark the shooting line for line 1 with flat markers 6 m from the goal.
- Line 2 (bottom): place four poles in a row 3 m apart, between 15 and 24 m from the goal.
- Mark the edge of the area for line 2 with flat markers 10 m from the goal.
- Place three balls on the edge-of-the-area line.
- Split the players into two lines at the far end of the area.
- Every player in line 1 has a ball.
- With more than 14 players, set up a second circuit so the lines stay short.
Equipment
- Balls × 10
- Cones × 16
- Flat markers × 20
- Mini goals × 2
- Poles × 4
How it works
- The line 1 player dribbles in a zig-zag around the four cones and shoots before the 6 m line.
- The line 2 player runs the slalom through the poles without a ball.
- At the edge of the area, the line 2 player shoots first time with one of the balls there.
- The next player in each line starts when the previous one passes the last cone or pole.
- After shooting, the line 1 player collects their ball.
- Once the line 2 player has shot, the line 1 player dribbles the ball to the edge of the area of line 2, leaves it on the line and joins the back of line 2.
- After shooting, the line 2 player collects the ball, dribbles it back along the side line and joins the back of line 1.
- Play 4 blocks of 4 minutes with 1 minute rest between blocks.
- The goalkeepers swap goals after each block.
- Each goal scores a point for its line.
Coaching points
- Keep the ball close with small touches, using both the inside and the outside of the foot.
- At each cone, drop your shoulder to fake one way and push the ball the other way.
- Lift your head after the last cone to see the goalkeeper before shooting.
- In the slalom, take short quick steps and keep your hips low around each pole.
- Approach the ball at an angle, plant your standing foot beside it and strike with your laces.
- Aim low and towards the corners, away from the goalkeeper.
- Goalkeepers: get set before each shot and stay on the balls of your feet.
Progressions
- Line 1 must dribble and shoot with the weaker foot.
- Line 2 may only score in the far corner.
- Set a time limit from the start to the shot.
- A defender chases the line 1 player from the last cone to put pressure on the shot.
Regressions
- Spread the cones and poles further apart.
- Allow line 2 one touch to set the ball before shooting.
- Move both shooting lines closer to the goal.
Variations
- Shooting competition: the line that scores more goals in a block wins it.
- The coach passes the ball to line 2 at the edge of the area instead of using a stationary ball.
Key principles
- Control before speed: a tidy dribble leads to a better shot.
- Look before shooting: pick a corner, not just the goal.
- Quick rotation: the circuit only works if everyone moves on straight away.
A technical finishing circuit for U13–U14 players on a 30 × 20 m area. It uses two 3 m goals with a goalkeeper in each. Line 1 dribbles in a zig-zag through four cones, changes direction with a feint at each one and shoots before the 6 m line. Line 2 runs a slalom through four poles without a ball. They arrive at the edge of the area and shoot first time with one of the balls waiting on the 10 m line. Players rotate from one line to the other. Everyone practises close control before a shot and striking a stationary ball after a quick change of direction.
Use it as
- Technical block
Updated October 28, 2026
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