Intermediate Shooting (C) – Passing Skills are Shooting Skills

 Intermediate Shooting (C) – Passing Skills are Shooting Skills

CoachingAmericanSoccer.com®

In soccer, passing skills are shooting skills.  The next step in the soccer shooting progression builds on the instruction provided in Coaching American Soccer – Intermediate Shooting (A), passing through the goal; and, Intermediate Shooting (B), shooting a moving ball.  This is done by adding many of the skills contained in Intermediate Passing that now are to be implemented as shooting options.

    1. Target various locations on goal.
    2. Shoot from different locations and angles within the field.
    3. Train both feet equally.
    4. “Pass” the ball “through” the goal mouth, ensuring that the ball hits your targeted location. Pass to a real teammate behind the goal (no net).  Pass to an imaginary teammate behind the goal (no net).
    5. Pass to an imaginary teammate behind the goal (with net).
    6. As always, remember that accuracy is key, power comes later.
    7. Also remember to “see” your foot strike the ball properly. Keep in mind the adage in golf that, “If you look up, you’ll see the shot that you didn’t get because you looked up!”
    8. Shoot a stationary ball.
    9. Shoot a moving ball.
    10. Add a goalkeeper.
    11. Add a stationary defender.
    12. Add multiple stationary defenders.
    13. Add defenders with restricted movement.
    14. Have a teammate pass the ball to you, then shoot.

Dribble – Take the ball directly into the goal.  First, speed dribble.  Second, beat a goalkeeper one-on-one.  (Remember, you don’t have to actually get past a goalkeeper, you just have to set up the shot to go outside of their reach and into the net.)

Push Pass – Just like a lay-up in basketball, this shot must always be made.  In general, practice from 1-yard to 18-yards out from goal.

 Outside of the Foot Pass – Use of the outside of the foot to score should be as natural as using the inside of the foot.  Practice from 1- to 18-yards out from goal.

Instep Drive – The most basic kick in soccer is also the most basic kick in shooting.  Keep the ball low.  Remember that the key to keeping the ball low is to making sure that the kicking foot is not on the upswing when the ball is struck.  This is done by getting the body over top of the ball.  This is accomplished by proper placement of the plant foot.  In general, practice from 12-yards to 25-yards out from goal.

Through Pass – Take advantage of traffic and the very real possibility that the goalkeeper has their sight-lines screened by multiple players. Practice from 18-yards to 25-yards out.  This shot is usually on or just above the ground.

Driven Ball – The Driven Shot is probably the most-recognized in soccer.  It is hard, it is well-placed, it is usually a straight-line instep-drive, and it is most-often flighted from just above the ground to just under 8-feet above the ground.  Practice from 18-yards to 30-yards out.

Lofted Drive – This is a shot, often taken from distance, that usually is intended to take advantage of a goalkeeper who has lost concentration or who is too far out in front of the goal.  It is an opportunistic shot that usually has a little bit of pace taken off it and is particularly well placed.  Practice from 30-yards to 40-yards out.

Chipping – This shot, taken from a medium distance, is intended to go over the goalkeeper’s head and under the cross bar.  This is to take advantage of a goalkeeper who has lost concentration or who is too far out in front of the goal.  It is an opportunistic shot that usually has a little bit of pace taken off it and is particularly well placed.  Practice from 30-yards to 40-yards out.

Airborne Balls – Practicing shooting an airborne ball best utilizes a teammate as a server.  Serves should be simple, at first, and then build in angle and difficulty.  Practice from 6- to 20- yards.  Otherwise, if practicing alone, this will require a self-toss.

Toe Poke – Set up obstacles (cones on their sides) with one small path to goal.  Poke the ball through the gap to score from 1- to 6-yards out.

Soccer Coaching Tips:

    • Players must be continuously reminded that too much power, too soon, is at the expense of accuracy and accuracy is key. A hard shot that is off frame and never had a chance of going in is little more than wasted effort.
    • Shooting is good. Shooting is fun.  Good things happen when you shoot.  Shoot early and often.
    • Use every trick in the arsenal to achieve success. Recognize that not all players perceive shooting the same way.  Add cones, coaching stakes, hurdles or flags as targets.  Hang a pendulum ball to hit.  Square-mouthed trash cans laid on their sides also can be used as targets.  See what works for individual players and cater to their needs.  All scores get positive reinforcement.  Inability to score means trying a different approach.
    • Add distractors in the field, such as cones, coaching stakes or dummies. If you can’t afford dummies, use trash cans.
    • Remind players to follow-up their shots to put in rebounds.
    • See “Free Shooting.”  When practicing with others, players must ensure each other’s safety to avoid getting hit in the head.
    • Proceed to the “Advanced Shooting” articles.

© Copyright, John C. Harves