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Shooting
Travis Braden, Regional coach Administrator
627-4666 (home)
629-5859 (work)
travis_braden@mgoblue.com
April 6, 2005
This week we are going to talk about what most (if not all) players feel is the best part of soccer-shooting. Pretty much everyone agrees that a powerful shot that ends up in the back of the net is probably the most exciting part of the game. However, as with everything else, shooting requires skill, technique, and practice.
-First of all, a player must have confidence. Confidence that every shot is going to go in. Confidence that the GK doesn’t have a chance. The game’s great scorers all have one thing in common-supreme confidence in their ability to drive the ball into the net. In order to score a player must want to score. I tell my players to “shoot it like you mean it”.
-Just as important, a player must put themselves in position to shoot. This means constant movement away from defenders in an effort to create space. Most goals are a result of hard work prior to the kick, and most goals don’t just happen. It takes preparation beforehand.
-That being said, the decision to shoot on goal must be immediate. Hesitation leads to two things-a poor shot, and the chance for defenders to close and stop, block, or deny the shot. When dribbling the shot must be taken immediately after stopping the dribble, and when receiving a pass the ball must be quickly trapped and shot, or (even better) one timed into the net.
-As for technique, the ankle is locked with toes pointing toward the target. Other leg is placed to the side of the ball (but not touching it). Contact is made with the flat, top area of the foot, between the toes and ankle. This will provide the correct amount of lift. If too much of the foot is underneath the ball it will simply go straight up into the air, and if contact is made with the toes only the ball will roll along the ground.
-Follow through is critical, not only for an effective shot but to prevent injury. Players need to remember that the ball will travel in the direction their toes are pointing after follow through.
-Players should always remember to follow their shot. Numerous goals are a result of second (and even third or fourth) chances after deflections off the goal, GK, defenders, and even teammates. Players should never stop to admire their shot and should always follow their shot with the intention of scoring no matter what.
Here’s a fun drill called “Shooting Gallery” which can be used to develop proper shooting technique.
Place a cone approx 20 yds from the goal. Have the players line up, single file, facing the cone and approx 5-10 yds from it. Their backs will be to the goal. Coach with balls stands opposite the players, approx 10-15 yds away. On the “go” signal the first player runs around the cone, turns, and moves towards the goal. Coach feeds the player with a ball which the player must quickly trap and shoot or one time into the net. Players only get one shot and then must go to the end of the line. Continue until one player scores three times. Remember to change positions so players are shooting from their left, their right, and the center.
Variations:
-Have shooter become a goalkeeper
-Use a wall or fence that will deflect ball back to shooter
-Player passes ball back to coach, who passes back again for shot
This can also be an effective counterattack drill. Instead of shooting on goal have players collect ball and pass back to coach, or divide team in half and have receivers pass to a teammate rather than coach. This drill is especially effective in developing quick collect and release skills for your defenders. You can even divide your team into three groups and apply pressure on the receivers by having one group act as defenders.
At all age levels the primary focus should be on developing the proper technique. Please don’t teach, and discourage your players from, such things as bicycle kicks, lunge shots, or other shots sometimes seen by the top players. Keep it simple and keep it fun.
“The reason the top players are so good is that their parents aren’t coaching them from the sidelines”.
TRAVIS BRADEN
REGION 151 COACH ADMINISTRATOR
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