The shooting range – practice
in Shooting
This three-part session will have your team peppering the opponents’ goal. By TRISTRAM BISGROVE MORE
Don’t be shy – shoot!
Get your players shooting at every opportunity with this drill.
What this session is about
- Shooting.
- Setting up team mates to shoot.
What to think about
Instruct shooting players to:
- Look to shoot at every opportunity.
- Watch ball all the way on to the foot.
- Ideally aim low, across the goalkeeper and into the corners.
- Try a variety of shooting techniques: Instep, side-foot, etc.
- Follow through with the leg and foot.
- Not try to hit the ball too hard.
Set-up
| Warm up | Session | Developments | Game Situation | Warm Down |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 minutes | 10-15 minutes | 15 minutes | 10-15 minutes | 10 minutes |
What you get your players to do
Mark out an area with a cone or mini goal at one end. Use two players per area. One player starts in goal, and the other (the attacker) shoots.
The attacker passes the ball forward a short distance to one side then shoots. Make sure the attacker varies the side he shoots from so he gets used to using each foot.
After five shots from both the left and right sides, players switch roles.
To progress, the attacker tosses the ball up and towards the goal then sprints after it. The attacker lets the ball bounce once and volleys it at goal.
In pairs, the attacker takes a touch then shoots for goal against the keeper.
Development
Use a penalty area and seven players plus a keeper, with the other players acting as ball boys.
Players line up around the D, while you, or an assistant, stand at the edge of the penalty box. Throw the ball up for player A to run on to and either volley first time or take a controlling touch before shooting.
After shooting, player A turns, receives a pass from player B, and lays the ball off for the player B to either shoot first time or take a controlling touch before shooting, as shown in the middle picture.
The next two players in line repeat the drill. Distances from goal can be adjusted depending on the age and ability of the players.
To progress, add a passive defender who starts on the six-yard line and whose first job is to close down the volley, and then create a 2v1 situation in the second phase of the drill.
Shooters receive a pass back then shoot at goal.
Game situation
Play 4v4 plus two goalkeepers, with no offsides, on a 30×20 yards pitch. Place the goals on the longer touch lines, making the pitch wide, and condition the game so both sides can only make a maximum of five passes before shooting, otherwise they concede possession.
If the goalkeeper makes a save and the ball goes behind the goal, one of the ball boys immediately passes or bounces the ball to an attacker for a shot rather than have a corner. The team that scores most goals wins.
Teams can only make five passes before shooting. Ball boys outside the pitch quickly serve the ball back on to create opportunities.
