Box Organization
How to Finish off a Serve
Finishing is a talent that is often perceived as a natural gift. However, once the ball is served into the box, it is usally the team that is more organized that finishes the serve. The best teams are very organized in the box and understand before the ball is served the position they should be moving toward and the technique needed to finish off a quality serve.
As a ball moves into the flanks teams need to be trained to move properly. Training players to make near post, far post and middle runs is the first step in framing the goal. Additionally training players to work into position to clean up a bad serve and to finish off a ball played further away from the goal is important. Often it is useful to have a second middle runner near the penalty line as well as runners just outside the eighteen and possibly a second far post runner as a target between the six and eighteen yard line. These runners will be able to finish off the longer serve or clean up a redirected ball and put it back on frame. The diagram below shows proper runs, spaces to fill and how to react once a ball clears the runners without a touch to maintain a properly framed goal. This shows the runs necessary to have the best possible chance of finishing the opportunity with a ball in the back of the net.
The ball begins with the center midfielder and is played to the outside midfielder in the flank. |
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It can be seen that the ball begins with the center midfielder and is played to the outside midfielder in the flank. The following runs are then made.
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The ball, now served has cleared the near post and slot runners. |
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So: Frame the goal.
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