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C h a p t e r 4
Teaching Soccer Technique
Shooting
There are few chances to score during a Soccer game. Good teams exploit those
chances. Shooting should be part of every practice session. Emphasize the
development of proper shooting technique: proper body mechanics, accuracy, power
and timing. There is also an important mental aspect to shooting. A player who shoots
with confidence is more likely to be successful. Players need to relax and focus when
shooting. Help your players get a feel for shooting the ball properly so they can begin
to correct their own mistakes.
The first step in teaching shooting is developing good technique. Begin with
fundamental drills and progress to those that incorporate pressure from an opponent.
Your players should learn to be equally effective with both feet. Teach them that in
order to strike the ball properly they must place the plant-foot 6 to 8 inches to the
side of the ball and pointed toward the target. The plant-leg should be slightly bent,
with the head, chest and shoulders over the ball to keep the shot low. The ankle of the
kicking leg should be locked while striking the ball. The shooter should push off the
plant-foot and strike through the center of the ball, landing on the kicking foot.
Accuracy is the difference between simply shooting and scoring goals. The golden
rule is, accuracy before power. Any ball that slips past the goalkeeper scores, not just
eye-catching powerful blasts. Players should think about how to beat the goalkeeper.
Players should look before shooting and make an early decision where to shoot.
Remind them to look down at the ball, not the goal, when striking the ball. Low shots
that move away from the goalkeeper are the most difficult to save. Encourage your
players to shoot the ball before the goalkeeper is set. A quick shot leaves the goalkeeper
less time to react. Most important, make the goalkeeper save the ball. Shots on goal
require the goalkeeper and defenders to react. Forcing them to save opens the door to
scoring through their mistakes; it gives your shooters an extra chance. Deflected shots
may fall at the heads or feet of your forwards for an easy put-back goal. A shot that
goes high or wide leaves no chance for a goal.
Shooting for power requires players to stay compact over the ball. A helpful teaching
hint is telling your players to imagine that each has a giant eyeball on the center of
his or her chest. When making contact with the ball, they want that eyeball staring
straight down on the ball. This will ensure that the head, chest and shoulders stay over
the ball. The ankle locks firm for a solid, powerful contact. The plant foot should be
near and even with, or slightly in front of, the ball. Encourage your players to strike
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