April 30th, 2010Soccer Practice Games: 3 Ways To Shoot Properly
In Soccer practice games, scoring goals is one thing that adds to the excitement of the young players while playing. It is therefore necessary for you to find out and add as many opportunities as you can for their practice. In order to create such occasions for them, many options are available that can be performed. A few examples are shooting drills, full-field scrimmages, and small sided games.
Throughout the full field scrimmages and small sided games, you need to continue amending the methods that help scoring more goals. Add in such games that don’t need a goalie to play or limit the goalie’s movement within the predefined lines. Expand the existing goalpost or you may include more goals for the purpose of increasing goal scoring opportunities.
In soccer training, when players develop their shooting technique and tactical knowledge, goal creation also increases. As in passing skill, it’s a good idea to start shooting skills as early as possible but emphasize them more during the later stages of their development.
One of the ways to develop shooting skills is through soccer drills work. Shooting skills of the players are developed and they get better in scoring goals as a result of these drills. It is therefore important that you encourage your kids to become skilled at shooting the ball precisely.
During soccer exercises, the players should be taught the way to strike the ball appropriately when shooting. Players can take repeated shots at close range from the inside of the foot. Using the inside of the foot results in enhancing the shooting precision. When circumstances demand more power, instruct the players to strike the ball using the instep of the foot, with toes pointed downwards and ankle locked.
Positioning of the non kicking foot has an effect on the height of the shot. So instruct the players to position the non kicking foot ahead of the ball to keep the shot low. You should eliminate all distractions for example moving balls, moving shooters, or defenders so that the player’s concentration is only on shooting the ball.
You can start the drill progression in soccer practice games with a stationery ball and a stationery shooter. As the shooting techniques progress, add to the challenge by putting the shooter in action before he/she hits the ball. This shift will alienate from the accuracy of the striking efforts at first, because the player’s visualization must serve a double purpose.
One, it allows the shooting players to find some space in the direction of the ball and then it also helps them put the foot at the very spot where the ball is.
As players become confident, enhance the level of difficulty by placing both shooter and the ball in motion, and create a more game like state. Once they show improvement in shooting the ball, introduce varying speeds for the ball.
So there you have it! Create goal creation opportunities for your players in soccer practice games and make the most of your training sessions. For more of such tips and other soccer coaching resources, join our youth soccer coaching community.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority in youth soccer coaching and has already helped thousands of youth coaches to dramatically improve their coaching skills. Learn how to explode your players’ skills and make training fun by downloading your free ebook at: Soccer practice games