The shooting range – practice
in Shooting
This three-part session will have your team peppering the opponents’ goal. By TRISTRAM BISGROVE MORE
Side-on volley shots
When the ball’s between knee and waist height the side-on volley is a very effective technique for getting a strike in at goal.
What this session is about
- Developing a different technique for kicking the ball when it’s not on the ground.
- Shooting.
What to think about
- Take angled sideways on position so kicking leg can swing fully, almost parallel with the ground, and forward and across body.
- Extend ankle. Knee moves through ahead of the ball.
- Upper body falls away from ball.
- Use instep or “laces”.
- Contact ball above horizontal midline.
- Body rotates around non-kicking leg.
Set-up
1 ball between 2 players.
| Warm up | Session | Developments | Game Situation | Warm Down |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 minutes | 10 minutes | 15 minutes | 15 minutes | 10 minutes |
What you get your players to do
Players stand opposite each other about 10 yards apart. The first player throws the ball up in the air to the side, lets it bounce and volleys it to their partner, who repeats the drill.
Progress by having the players strike the ball before it bounces.
In both drills the players should practise hitting the ball with each foot.
Study the technique for executing the side on volley.
Development
A server stands between the penalty spot and the 18-yard box with two groups of players either side, lined up parallel to the goal-line and facing the server about 5-10 yards away.
The server tosses a ball for the first player from one line that is already moving towards the ball.
After one bounce they try to score past the keeper. After the shot that player joins the back of the other line while the server turns and tosses the next ball to the player at the front of that line, who repeats the drill.
The players should now volley the ball before it hits the ground.
Serve the ball to your players. Make sure they practice from both sides.
Game situation
Play 4v4 in an area approx 30 x 20 yards with a goal at each end. There are no designated goalkeepers but each player can use their hands to prevent goals.
Players move the ball by throwing it to each other and each player must take no more than four steps before releasing the ball.
The opposition can win the ball by intercepting thrown passes or when the team in possession drops the ball.
Goals can only be scored by players volleying a ball on the full that a teammate has thrown to them.
In a game players throw the ball to each other and can only score from volleys.
What to call out
- “Watch the ball all the way onto your foot”
- “Don’t try to hit the ball too hard”
- “Concentrate on timing”
