Social Icons

Pages

5 Things You Need to Know About Shooting in Soccer

1. Passing Grade

Since you'll rarely be shooting at the goal when the soccer ball is still, learning to pass and receive is an important way to improve your scoring ability. Practice passing and receiving drills with other players until it becomes second nature. Make sure you can pass and receive the soccer ball with either foot, no matter how fast it's coming at you.

2. Drill it Home

Work on drills that help you aim when you're shooting and passing. Drills will help you identify your weak spots so you can focus on them with extra drills or help from your coaching staff. Drills are also a terrific way to condition yourself to react without much thought. If you're standing close to the goal and you're passed the ball, you're far more likely to attempt a goal if you've drilled that maneuver in practice.

3. Look Up for Success

Avoid staring at your feet and the soccer ball when you're shooting the soccer ball into the goal. Look at where you want the soccer ball to go rather than at your feet or at the ball itself. If you only train your eyes on the soccer ball, you have no idea how to position your foot to aim the shot. You'll need to spot the ball until you've got it stopped positioned for the goal attempt. Once you have it under control, lift your eyes and focus all your energy on where you want the ball to go as you shoot.

4. Step it Up

Know how your kick will effect the ball's forward momentum and trajectory. If you want to keep the ball low to the ground, kick the middle of the soccer ball with the instep of your cleats. Practice this with both feet so you're not limited when you kick. Strike the ball lower with the top of the foot to lift it up and shoot high toward the top of the goal. If you know how to shoot the ball with your foot to keep it low or vault it high, you're far more likely to shoot one past the goalie.

5. Walk it Off

One of the keys to successful shooting and scoring is learning to walk through the ball. You'll develop a strong shot and good body posture if you work with the ball as it moves toward the goal and you're walking, shooting and continuing your forward movement. If you walk through your shot, you to use the forward momentum of your body to put some power behind your kick. This also prepares you to take shots as you run down the field. In addition, you learn to shoot with either foot, since walking is a natural movement for the body. Practice kicking with your nondominant foot as you walk through it naturally.