Filed under: Dave Clarke, Soccer Coaching, Soccer News, Soccer Team Management, Soccer Training | Tags: Champions League, Chelsea, diego milito, how to shoot, Inter Milan, samuel eto'o, shooting drill
As a striker if you only get one chance in a match you have to make the most of it. That means it is vital you get it on target. In the Champions League Round of 16 match between Chelsea and Inter Milan, there was little between the two teams over the two legs. But from the few chances on offer Inter scored three goals and Chelsea two. In the first leg in Milan Diego Milito gets one chance in the first half and scores in the second leg Samuel Eto’o gets one chance in the second half and scores. They both missed one good scoring opportunity but one out of two at this level is excellent. That’s what a striker must do.
I like to use simple exercises to get all my players hitting the targets with shots at goal. In the clip below is a simple exercise, with players passing and shooting at targets in the goal.
Hitting the targets either side of the goal makes it harder for the goalkeeper to get a hand on it. Players need to look up and see where the goalkeeper is so they can hit it where the goalkeeper has less chance to cover it.
You may find younger players kicking with the toe or side of the foot. Try to get them to use the instep which will be a more powerful shot – although perhaps not as accurate.
Shooting techniques
1. Head down, looking at the ball at the moment of contact.
2. Body over the ball to keep the shot under the crossbar.
3. To drive it low, place the non-kicking foot alongside the ball.
4. For power – follow through with the kicking foot after the ball has been struck.
Watch this simple exercise to get your players hitting the target. And below that watch Milito score his chance for Inter Milan against Chelsea.
Filed under: Dave Clarke, Soccer Coaching, Soccer News, Soccer Refereeing, Soccer Training | Tags: how to shoot, shooting skills, shooting technique, U7s
This is Louis’ technique in the U7s aged 6 after a couple of seasons being coached and trained for his first season in competitive soccer. Look at how balanced he is with his arms out for balance, eyes looking at the ball, plant leg next to the ball and knee bent over the ball.
By the time he was in the U10s he was averaging 25 goals a season. His direction and power was outstanding – but that is all down to his technique to shoot the ball.
It also meant he could experiment with different angles of his body and the angle over the ball.
This is the balance you need to get your players to practise and try to do it when they are as young as this. Louis will always have this ability to kick a ball with power and accuracy because he learnt it so young.
Tips to brush up on shooting technique:
Look for the following soccer skills:
Non-kicking foot alongside the ball.
Head down, eyes on the ball when striking.
Body over the ball.
Contact with the middle to top half of the ball.
Composure.
Players like England’s Wayne Rooney and USA’s Landon Donovan have this balance and technique and use it to perfection. Watch them below.
Watch this compilation of goals by Wayne Rooney to see how he uses his body and arms for balance and the angles for power and lift:
And this one from Landon Donovan, all balance and technique:
Filed under: Dave Clarke, Soccer Coaching, Soccer Fitness, Soccer Skills, Soccer Training | Tags: how to shoot, shoot at goal, Wayne Rooney
Can your players hit the target? I don’t know whether my U9s can because they won’t try. They had 16 corners at the weekend and not one shot from those corners. It was so frustrating, they passed and passed and passed, right in front of goal, it was almost as if they were too shy to shoot. Of course I love a good passing move, but from a corner I want them to be more direct – I want them to shoot!
So at my training session tonight I will give them target shooting practice.
The way to do it is to put some balls just outside the penalty area and get your players to shoot at goal from there.
Watch this clip of Wayne Rooney practicing shooting from outside the area and get your players doing the same thing.
Filed under: Dave Clarke, Soccer Coaching, Soccer Skills, Soccer Training, Uncategorized | Tags: AC Milan, Cristiano Ronaldo, dummy and shoot, how to dummy, how to shoot, Inter Milan, shooting practice, Zlatan Ibrahimovic
There are some fantastic attacking players around these days. They can make even the best defenders go the wrong way with a dummy move that gives them space to get off a shot at goal.
Watch Cristiano Ronaldo and he is always selling dummies and finding space where he shouldn’t. I watched Zlatan Ibrahimovic playing for Inter Milan a couple of weeks ago against AC Milan. He was moving and changing direction to put off the defenders.
So how do you go about coaching young players to grow into the boots of these players? It’s all about practice and allowing them to look clumsy as they do it. It isn’t easy because young players can find it difficult to do these sorts of skills, so you have to try, try and try again.
I like this clip of an Australian coach showing his players how to dummy and shoot. It gives you a clue as to how you should be doing it and what to expect.
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