You’ve probably heard it a hundred times that in coaching soccer drills, all tactics, skills, and teamwork taught to the players ultimately lead to a shot on the goal. It takes both skill and instinct to develop the art of good shooting. But other than this, winning attitude is also equally important.
It is the responsibility of every player but more importantly that of the forward players to shoot the ball. When you are teaching soccer, give shooting top priority.
There are so many things that may be a consequence of shooting. Shots can be positioned towards a goal. It may happen that the goalkeeper drops the ball right in front of your forward. Wild shots can turn into great passes. Ground shots can get a timely rebound. You may even hit a goal through a straight shot.
At the time of soccer practice, the attacking players always try to make the most of every goal-scoring opportunity. They are conditioned in a way that the only thought that keeps roaming inside their mind is getting the ball into the nets. These attacking players are known as sniffers in England. It is so because they are always looking for scoring opportunities.
To them, every opportunity is the last one they will get and hence shoot ferociously. They are always present at the right time at the right place. Amazingly, they have the ability to be in the wrong place at the right time. So in coaching soccer drills encourage your players to shoot the ball whenever possible.
As a rule, a shot is whenever the ball it hit in the direction of the goal with the intent to score. Yet, one technique that is most effective is driving the ball through the middle by use of the laces of the foot. The player’s head should be over the ball, his toe extended, and his upper body should remain steady.
In the course of coaching drills, teach your players to shoot the ball wide and low to the goalie. Herein, low ground shots take priority over high shots. This is because goalies find it difficult to stop the ground shots as they have to stretch their hands relatively more.
While practicing with regulation sized goals, players get to score more by hitting the ball over and above the goalkeeper’s head. You must discourage your players to do this as it instills the habit of shooting high goals. In coaching soccer drills, stop this practice by not letting your players to practice in adult sized goals.
Now get out there and start teaching your players to look up once before they shoot the ball with a view to check the position of the goalkeeper.
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Andre Botelho is the author of “The Expert Youth Soccer Coaching Guide” and he’s a recognized expert in the subject of youth soccer coaching. Learn how to explode your players’ skills and make coaching sessions fun in less than 29 days! Download your free pdf guide at: Youth Soccer Drills.
Tags: coaching drills, coaching soccer drills, Soccer practice, teaching soccer