How To Master Finishing as a Footballer (In 30 Days)

Summary

The video presents a seven-level progression for becoming a more effective football finisher, followed by a four-week training plan. No match is shown, and the subtitles provide no timestamps.

Seven Levels of Finishing

1. Master the basic finishes. Use the inside of the foot for accuracy, especially close to goal. Use the laces, with the ankle locked, when more power is needed. Keep the support foot aligned with the target and use the opposite arm for balance.
2. Develop both feet. Practise finishing with the weaker foot from different angles and into different corners. This avoids needing an extra touch to switch to the preferred foot, which can give defenders time to recover.
3. Choose between one touch and a setup touch. In crowded areas, a one-touch finish can beat an approaching defender. With more time or distance from goal, a controlled touch first may improve accuracy. For one-touch shots, adjust the feet early and redirect the ball rather than taking an oversized swing.
4. Finish under pressure. Assess how much time and space are available. Move the ball beyond a defender’s blocking reach, use the body to shield it and protect the shooting angle, and take the available shot—even a toe-poke or a simple effort—instead of waiting for a perfect opening.
5. Create space with movement. Use a double movement: first draw the defender one way, then break sharply toward the intended receiving area. Move into the defender’s blind spot and meet the ball while still moving, rather than stopping to wait for it.
6. Read the goalkeeper. Look up and adapt to the keeper’s position. If the keeper rushes out, consider going around or over them. If they shift to one side, aim for the space on the other.
7. Decide before receiving. Check over the shoulder to locate defenders and the goalkeeper, then anticipate the likely pass or cross and choose a finish in advance. Planning early makes finishing quicker and more natural.

30-Day Training Plan

• Week 1 — Technique and both feet: Practise from three angles, starting close to goal and gradually moving back. Work on inside-foot and laces finishes with both feet, first from a stationary position and then while dribbling at about 60–70% speed. The demonstrated drills use sets of eight close-range finishes and fewer repetitions for more demanding shots from farther out.
• Week 2 — First touch, speed, and timing: Pass to a rebounder or partner, receive the return, set up the shot with a quality touch, and finish quickly from the centre and both sides. Practise turns in both directions and use both feet. The instructor specifies three sets of five shots, with work on each foot.
• Week 3 — Movement and pressure: With a partner acting as a defender, make a double movement, accelerate to meet the ball, take a purposeful first touch, and finish at high intensity. Feints can be added.
• Week 4 — Decisions and game realism: Use coloured cues to determine which way to move around cones representing a defender, then choose the finish and foot accordingly. The changing cue is intended to make practice less predictable and more like a match.

Presenter and Source

Efford Elite; the instructor is unnamed in the subtitles.