Having coached competitive soccer for over 15 years, I’ve seen firsthand how small sided games can make or break a player’s development. It’s in those tight spaces, under pressure, that real skill is forged—and nothing shapes a player’s effectiveness more than deliberate aim training. Whether you're a coach or an aspiring athlete, understanding how to train your aim in these condensed match scenarios isn’t just helpful; it’s essential. I’ve always believed that if you can place the ball exactly where you want it, when it counts, you’re already several steps ahead of the competition. And when I look at the coaching record I’ve built—321 wins against just 90 losses—I’m convinced that a huge part of that success comes from the emphasis my teams place on targeted, intentional finishing during small sided drills.
Let’s talk about why aim training matters so much here. In a regular 11v11 match, players have more time and space. But small sided games—think 3v3, 5v5, or 7v7—force quicker decisions. You don’t get three touches to set yourself up. It’s one touch, maybe two, and then release. That’s where precision separates the good from the great. I remember working with a young forward a few seasons back who had all the physical tools—speed, strength, you name it—but his finishing was inconsistent. We integrated specific aim exercises into every small sided session: aiming for specific corners of the goal, using both feet, even under defensive pressure. Within months, his conversion rate in games improved by roughly 27%, and honestly, it felt like we’d unlocked a part of his game he didn’t even know was there.
Now, you might wonder what effective aim training actually looks like. It’s not just blasting shots from anywhere. It’s structured repetition with clear objectives. For example, I often set up a 4v4 drill in a 30x20 yard area with two small goals. The rule? You can only score by placing the ball into one of the marked corners—no central shots allowed. This forces players to think about placement, not just power. And the results speak for themselves. Over an 8-week period with one of my academy groups, we tracked shot accuracy: it jumped from around 52% to nearly 74%. That kind of improvement doesn’t happen by accident. It’s about creating game-realistic pressure and giving players the tools to execute when it matters.
Another thing I’ve noticed—and this might be a bit controversial—is that many coaches overlook the mental side of aiming. It’s not just a physical skill. Players need to visualize the target, read the goalkeeper’s positioning, and sometimes even disguise their intent. I encourage my athletes to practice “look-away” finishes, where they shape their body to shoot one way but place it somewhere else. It’s a subtle art, but in small sided games, that split-second of deception can be the difference between scoring and being blocked. Personally, I love watching players who’ve mastered this—it’s like they’re playing chess while everyone else is stuck in checkers.
Of course, none of this works without the right foundation. First touch, body positioning, and balance all feed into accurate aiming. If your first touch is poor, your shooting setup will be rushed, and your aim will suffer. I spend at least 20 minutes of every training session on first touch drills under pressure, because I’ve found it directly impacts finishing quality. And let’s not forget about using both feet. I’ll be honest—I have a strong preference for developing two-footed players. It just opens up so many more options. In fact, in my experience, players who can finish confidently with either foot increase their scoring opportunities by something like 35-40% in small sided games. That’s not a random guess; it’s based on tracking performance across multiple seasons.
But here’s the real secret: consistency. Aim training isn’t something you do once and forget. It has to be woven into your regular routine. I make sure that every small sided game we play has some element of aiming built into the rules—whether it’s bonus points for hitting specific targets or consequences for missed sitters. It keeps players engaged and constantly refining their technique. And honestly, it’s one of the reasons my teams have been able to maintain such a strong record over the years. Those 321 wins didn’t come from luck; they came from thousands of hours of focused, intentional practice.
So, if you’re looking to elevate your game or your team’s performance, start with aim training in small sided environments. Pay attention to the details—the angle of your approach, the part of your foot you use, the spot you’re targeting. And don’t be afraid to make it competitive. I often tell my players, “If you’re not aiming with purpose, you’re just kicking a ball.” There’s a big difference. Whether you’re a player trying to break into the starting eleven or a coach building a winning culture, remember: precision in practice leads to excellence in performance. And from where I stand, that’s a formula that rarely fails.
