Toe Poke, A Finishing Art

This article was written by Chris Rue, Rush Soccer’s Futsal Manager.

Scoring and denying goals are the main missions during a match.  So much time is spent on the training ground in the buildup phase to create chances and deservedly so, but how often are sessions void of individual guidance in techniques to put the ball in the net?

Scoring goals is extremely difficult and an artform that few possess which is why these players are coveted the world over. Master finishers have an innate understanding of where to be and what technique to apply in order to score.  One of the more recent finishing trends that has been employed is the near post, top corner blast by the keeper’s ear. For a long time, strikers have been taught to go across the GK to the far post, but this new technique has become quite effective. Sergio Aguero highlights will give prime examples. The premise is to surprise the keeper. The modern GK is big and agile.  When they can see and read the ball strike, the save is imminent unless a deflection has occurred.

Almost a forgotten technique, and one that futsal players are adept at, is the toe poke. The surprise element of this technique cannot be overstated. The speed at which this can be applied is why it is so effective. Minimal back lift does not allow the GK to get set and typically catches them off guard. Romario, from Brazil, was a master of the toe poke.  He had the ability to move to his left and quickly apply a right foot poke to slip the ball past the keeper. He used it with such regularity and effectiveness in his professional career, surely, he had massive repetitions using this technique on the futsal court in his developing years.

During your next training session, introduce the toe poke finish and work on the intricacies of the technique and when to apply it.  Encourage it in your futsal sessions. The rewards of teaching this will pay massive dividends in your team’s ability to, as former announcer Tommy Smyth would say, “bulge the old onion bag”.