Mastering the Art of Modern Shooting and Finishing: A Coach’s Guide

Scoring goals is the most celebrated skill in football, yet finishing is often misunderstood as merely “shooting hard.” Stefano Santona’s Modern Shooting and Finishing dismantles this myth, presenting a holistic approach to developing clinical strikers through technical precision, tactical awareness, and psychological resilience. This article unpacks key insights from the book, offering coaches actionable drills and philosophies to elevate their players’ goal-scoring prowess.

The Finishing Mindset: Beyond Technique

Santona emphasizes that finishing is a blend of technical, tactical, and mental skills:

• Technical: Ball control, shooting accuracy, and use of both feet.
• Tactical: Reading defenders, exploiting space, and adapting to game dynamics (e.g., pressure, angles).
• Psychological: Composure under pressure and quick decision-making.

“No two finishing situations are the same. A top finisher adapts to defenders, pitch conditions, and even the game’s emotional tempo.”

Two Training Methods

1. Static Execution: Isolated technique drills (e.g., repetitive shooting without pressure).
2. Dynamic Execution: Game-like scenarios with defenders, time constraints, and unpredictable variables.

Progression is key: Players must master static techniques before thriving in dynamic environments.

Progressive Drills for All Levels

1. Foundational Drills (Static Execution)

Exercise: 1v0 Turning and Finishing

• Objective: Dribble, turn around a cone, and shoot quickly into small goals.
• Coaching Point: Focus on clean strikes with both feet.

Exercise: Psychokinetic Color Game

• Setup: Cones of different colors; players react to coach’s commands.
• Objective: Enhance decision-making by shooting at the called color’s target.

2. Intermediate/Advanced (Dynamic Execution)

Exercise: 1v1 Duel with GK

• Objective: Dribble past a defender and finish under pressure.
• Progression: Add time limits or require first-time shots.

Exercise: Crossing Combinations

• Objective: Attackers receive crosses under defensive pressure, focusing on first-touch finishes.
• Key Tip: Teach strikers to “attack the goal behind the ball’s line” for better visibility.

Key Coaching Takeaways

1. Repetition + Realism: Start with static repetition, then layer in defenders, limited touches, and situational constraints.
2. Small-Sided Games: Use 1v1 or 2v2 drills to simulate match intensity.
3. Mental Training: Incorporate pressure triggers (e.g., countdowns, point systems) to mimic game-day stress.
4. Adaptability: Modify drills for age/skill level—e.g., reduce distances for younger players or add complex combinations for advanced groups.

Conclusion: Building Complete Finishers

Modern Shooting and Finishing is a playbook for developing strikers who thrive under pressure. By balancing technique with game intelligence, coaches can transform raw shooters into composed finishers.

Call to Action:

• For Coaches: Experiment with the book’s drills, starting with static exercises and progressing to dynamic scenarios.
• For Players: Train both feet, study defenders’ movements, and embrace high-pressure repetitions.

“Great finishers aren’t born—they’re built through deliberate, adaptable practice.”

Credit: Stefano Santona, World Class Coaching

How do you train finishing in your sessions? Share your methods with #ModernFinishing!

(Note: This article is an original synthesis of the book’s concepts and does not reproduce copyrighted material.)