More Great
Shooting Exercises

POWER and FINESSE

• All players line up in single file about thirty yards directly in front of the goal. The coach takes all of the balls and kneels beside the goal. On the coach's whistle or shout the first player in line runs toward the goal and the coach rolls out two balls - one at a time - in quick succession. The first ball is the long ball (POWER SHOT) and the second ball is the shorter (FINESSE SHOT). The player must shoot both balls into the net in order to stay in the game. Shots must be clean, one touch, shots. If a player makes both shots he goes to the end of the line for the second round. If he misses one or both shots he is out of the game and is required to shag balls. The competition continues until only one player (the winner) is left.
  
  This drill was taught to me by Charlie Zarzour of Huntsville, Alabama at a USSF Coaching clinic.
  
        Kids love this game because of the competition.  Its one of a few that they ask to play EVERY practice.  It teaches players to shoot and immediately attack the goal looking for rebounds or garbage shots rather than standing back and admiring their shots. I often tell my players that soccer does not have style points. A beautiful bicycle shot counts the same as a chip in from two feet in front of the goal.
        Because it requires a single-file line and is not aerobic this drill should only be used at the end of practice when the players and coaches are really tired. It is a good ending to most practices and leaves the players enthused and wanting more.
• After I posted this drill to a soccer mailing list I got the following responses:
• This is called a knock out exercise (I don't like the term drill) and although the kids may love this type of competition doesn't it make the players who get knocked out and who then shags balls get less work than the winner (who probably is the one who needs the least amount of work). It is the players who get knocked out early who need the most work and this exercise doesn't provide it. Wouldn't it be wiser to take those players who get knocked out and work with their shooting technique? Perhaps they arent't locking their ankle or their plant foot is turned outward. By working with those players instead of having them shag balls you can raise the skill level of your team. Anyway that's my 2 cents. Craig Winans
   
• I use this same drill, but instead of the coach putting the ball into play,  I have 3 lines - shooting line, long ball line next to the post & short ball line next to the other post. No one gets knocked out, they just keep rotating lines. Works well & the kids love this activity. Patti Becker
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• Both Craig Winans' and Patti Becker's suggestions are good ones.  I like to have the coach put the ball into play to sort of equalize the players.  I coach a lot of co-ed teams and I may place the balls in easier positions for the weaker players or provide faster delivery for the better players.  Also I only use this as the last exercise of the day and often use it after our practice time is supposed to end to leave the players "wanting more".  It is a quick game usually taking only five minutes or less.  Ken Gamble

USING THE WEAKER FOOT

• Another good idea I saw recently was after a girl was on the left side of the goal and worked hard to get the ball to her right foot for a shot. Her coach yelled "the blue foot!". I looked hard and then noticed the girl had blue shoelaces on her left foot. Looking further I see that all the players had blue shoelaces on their left feet.
  
          Talking to the coach, she had all the girls put blue laces on their left feet to get them to be more conscious of the weak foot.
  
  Provided by Sal Pellingra Sjp333@AOL.COM 

          (This is especially good for younger children who know their colors but have trouble quickly telling their right foot from their left foot. - Ken)

QUICK STRIKE

• Here is my favorite "drill" for encouraging quick, opportunistic striking and finishing (this is not a big secret-- they teach it at the coaching schools and ODP camps):
  
  Set up two goals with goalies (either full size or the 4/5 size "Coerver" goals) at opposite ends of a small field about 20-35 yards long (you can vary length and width and size for teaching purposes and numbers of players). Adjust size of field to number of players and skill level, but keep it tight (encourage immediate exploitation of the smallest opening). Play teams of 3 (or up to 5 a side)-- run multiple games on separate fields or use a tournament style (watching teams line the field and randomly pass out-balls back into play-- keeps space tight and play going). Toss out a ball to start (see if you get an immediate shot after your "serve").
  
  After a goal is scored, goalie on scored-upon team distributes (tries to set up an immediate shot). With full size goals close by, any opening can result in a shot on goal from anywhere on field and players learn to shoot quickly before already tight space is closed down. Play to a time limit or three goals (again - shoot quick is the message).
  
  This is a training drill to build the habit of quick set up and strike - not a technical drill to teach shooting. Adjust field size depending on how your team is reacting (less skilled teams may need more space to start).
  
  This drill provided by Gary  gsoliva@aloha.net

KING OF THE 18

      Another one of those games (drills) that kids love.   B is the defender shown above.  A is the attacker.  Everyone in line A has a ball of their own and is lined up in single line about 30 yards out from goal.   On the coach's whistle the first person in line A dribbles in and attempts to make a "move" and get by the defender "B".  B's job is to tackle the ball away.  Both players must be aggressive.  This is not a delaying drill.   If A can get around B he can then (and only then) take a shot at the goal.   Only one shot can be taken.  If he scores he gets a goal.  If Player A gets a shot off then Player B must get the ball out of the goal or shag the ball if player A misses.  Player B then makes a wide sweep to the back of line A and becomes an attacker.  On the other hand if Player B is able to tackle the ball away the he gets a point and proceeds to the back of line A  and becomes an attacker. 

      The really fun part of this drill happens as soon as the ball is tackled away or the shot is taken.  At that point the coach blows his whistle and Player A is no longer the attacker but must immediately turn around and defend against the next player in the line.   This teaches transition from offense to defense. 

      I have yet to have a player who, running this drill for the first (and often second, third, fourth, etc.) time, after scoring starts celebrating - only to find a new attacker dribbling up his back and taking a shot. The first attacker is shocked every time.  Of course the next player who is able to  score quite easily does the exact same thing.  Young players have no idea that as soon as they shoot they must play defense and this drill teaches them that.  

      I have had teams that were very aggressive offensively but who were subject to defenses who laid back, packed it in around the penalty area, and immediately launched a quick counter-attack.  This drill provides a basis for transition defense.  This drill can be run with as many as three rows of attackers/defender.  A separate row can be placed on each side of the configuration shown above.  Players swap lines after each turn.

      The key in this drill is for the coach to have a quick whistle.  Do not let the players drag out this drill.  If a player can not make an immediate move around a defender and turns his back to the goal you should whistle for the next attacker to begin his attack. The old attacker must give up his ball and become a defender or risk a quick empty net goal.
 
      The trend in soccer is away from drills with players standing in lines (and justifiably so) but this drill, if run properly, is an all-out aerobic exercise.  Once you run this drill several times it will become apparent who you should have playing your striker positions.  Having the players keep score makes this even more competitive.

        This drill was another taught to me by Charlie Zarzour of Huntsville, Alabama at a USSF Coaching clinic.

QUICK SHOT

Kill the Goalie

• From Carol Wiedner as posted to Womens-soccer-L mailing list:
  
          My team's favorite is an oldie but goodie called "Kill the Goalie" (or, if I'm feeling adventurous, "Kill the Coach"). Line everyone but the goalies up in a semi-circle in front of the goal (the apex is usually up at the top of the box, with the ends 3 or 4 feet from the goal). Everyone in the circle has 2 balls and the goalies take turns in front of goal. On my shout or whistle, each player shoots, one at a time, moving around the circle. When you get around to the other side, keep going back around the circle to the player you started with. Generally, as soon as the goalie touches the ball or it's clear the ball will go behind the goalie, I call for the next shot, so they come very quickly. No dribbling, just a quick, accurate shot allowed. It's also great for working the goalies reaction times, encouraging them to forget the last shot and reset quickly for the next one. We usually make it a game, where the field players get one point for each shot *on* goal (whether it scores or not) and the goalies get two points for each save.
   
•        Pattie Becker added this to the above drill:
  I use a variation of this also but I give each shooter a number & they go in numerical order but the numbers are not next to each other around the semi-circle. The players say their number as they shoot and the goal keeper must react quickly to the change of direction of each shot.  Patti Becker-
   
•        And Richard Brown added his own variation:
  How about a variation Kill the Keeper.
  Surround the keeper with your players. The idea is one touch low shooting. Players are looking to shoot low, right at the keeper. Keeper makes a save we applaud him. Then he immediately rolls the ball to another player who immediately shoots.  The players beyond the keeper must watch the shooter, the player must line himself up with the shot to block or control the shot if it gets by the keeper. Then he immediately shoots at the keeper, if he cant get a quick shoot, he must pass to a teammate and then that player will shoot.  If keeper deflects shot the player closest to the ball can shoot. If keeper dives and deflects shoot, he better get up fast or get hit while he is down and out of position.  If the ball goes over the keepers head the shooter sprints to retrieve the ball, while we play on with another ball adjusting the circle. If player beyond the the keeper forgets to line himself up with shooter and the low ball gets by, he sprints for the ball.  It takes guts for the keeper to play this game, and its a serious aerobic exercise for the keeper. Good for keepers reflexes, and for second & third and fourth efforts. To save shot after shot coming from all angles and positions. He can not rest or risk catching a ball in the face.  The ball must be properly inflated before you start. Never had a player get a major injury doing this drill. However, make a circle within the circle where the players cannot enter, so the keeper will not get kicked by mistake. Good keepers love it, for some reason?  Richie

Developing A Goal Scoring Attitude

       This exercise was supplied to the Soccer-Coach-L mailing list by Bernie Hayden at NYSA Woodinville, WA, http://www.northshoresoccer.org/default.asp
 
         This is from Washington State Youth Soccer News in an article by Craig Lange (director of the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association).

• ACTIVITY ORGANIZATION:
  4v4 plus GK
  30 x 40 yd area
  Full-sized goals
  Two retrievers behind each goal
  Spare balls inside each goal
  
• ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION:
  One point is awarded for a "shot on goal" that is saved by the GK. Two points awarded for a goal.  If a goal is scored or a shot goes wide, play is restarted by the GK.  First team to score seven points OR to have all four players record a shot on goal is the winner. Winning team plays team that served as retrievers.
  
• You could add to this a tid-bit from "Coaching the keeper in small-sided play"; Utilize the "out-of-the box" rule. For a team to score, their GK must be outside own goal area.

Pass and Shoot
Provided by Monte Pittman

        Make your grid about 20 x 40. It is set as 5v5 set up with 1 player on the other teams side of the field. The team must make 3 passes and try to shoot on the other teams goal. If the defensive player is able to steal the pass then they must drop it back to their team to complete the 3 passes. Vary the size of the grid to suit your team.

       If the ball goes out of bounds then it is a throw in for the other team at the point that it went out. This helps improve long throw-ins. If it goes out deep on "A" side and must be thrown to the "B" side. The "A" team can steal it if they get to it before it crosses midfield. If it goes out on the end, then it is treated like a corner or goal kick.

        When the 3 passes are complete then it is wise to use your defender on the other side to a crossing shot to for the shot on goal. This keeps the rest of them paying attention when it is being played on one side. It also makes everyone switch from offense to defense repeatedly.

        You may vary the number of players to fit your team. We have a large team so we divide them into 3 groups and play it round-robin. After a score then the team that is out switches with the team that gave up the goal.

        Another variation is after the 3 passes are made you can allow 1 person to go in with the ball to help set up the shot on the other end. Once the shot is attempted or the ball is stolen back then they must return quickly to their end without interfering with the play.

Responses to mojapitt@hotmail.com

Created: 12/20/99
Last Updated: 03/26/07

Since February 24, 1999
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  Web Administrator    Ken Gamble