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One of the keys
elements of finishing in soccer is accuracy. Power is nice, but it's a
distant second in priority. In the past, I have always stressed the need
for shooting with the instep. Though, I don't want to downgrade the
importance of this technique, I am starting to believe it is more
meaningful to emphasize first and foremost accuracy by "passing" the ball
into the goal. Power can be trained later after the player understands a
slow roller into the goal is worth more than a rocket shot not on frame.
Warm up -- Set up two lines (of 1 to 2 players), six to eight yards
apart (goal post width); these two lines are directly across from two
other lines of players; the distance between the sets of two lines are ten
to fifteen yards (coach should adjust to player age and ability).
A1 passes straight across to B1 and
follows the pass to the B line; B1 receives, makes an angled pass to C1
and follows pass to C line; C1 receives, makes a straight ahead pass to D1
and follows pass to D line; D1 makes an angled pass to A2, etc.
Warm-up Progression
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Ask players to
pass with specified foot
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Restrict number of
touches to control ball before making next pass
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Switch to an
instep pass, if accuracy can be maintained
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At some point,
have the team envision that each line is a goal post; the straight ahead
passes are to the near post, the angled passes are to the far post
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Ask the players to
pass to the inside foot of the receiving player (i.e., inside the post)
Warm-up Coaching
Points:
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Ensure the inside
of the foot is used to pass (as this normally is the most accurate type
of pass for a player)
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Play should be
continuous, have extra balls ready between groups A & C and groups B &
D. Bad passes can be chased down by the passer while the next player
puts a new ball back into play
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Make sure
receptions are toward the target
Shooting Drill:
Setup --
Structure the drill exactly like the warm-up, except with a goal between
groups A and C. When A passes to B, B finishes with an angled pass to the
far post; when C passes to D, D finishes with an angled pass to his/her
far post.
Drill Progression:
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Change drill so
that A passes across to D who finishes (to the near post) with a
straight on pass; C passes across to D who finishes with a straight on
pass
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Restrict number of
touches before shot
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Use instep (if
accuracy can be maintained)
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Add a GK;
initially position the GK away from the post the players will be
shooting; that is, the GK should be shaded toward the side that makes
the initial pass
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Let the GK be
active and allow the attacker to finish to the appropriate post and
appropriate part of foot
Drill Coaching
Points:
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Stress accuracy,
not power, constantly
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The position of
body and support foot should be towards the finishing point
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Have player look
up to side of goal they are finishing; when GK added, player should look
to near post, if not covered shoot there, else go to far post (do not
look at or try to find the GK)
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Make sure player
is looking at the ball at the point when the shot is taken
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Team and coaches
should reinforce every made goal with some kind of positive exaltation;
save the loudest for the accurate goal as the power shot will get its
fair share of "oohs" and "aaahs."
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