Score more goals in 5 weeks: WEEK 4 Shoot first time

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If you want your team to score more goals, it’s essential that your players keep hold of the ball so they have as many opportunities as possible to get it to your strikers. In the three previous issues we’ve shown you how to play out from the back, retaining possession as you move the ball from the goalkeeper through the defence and midfield. But when your players get it up front and your strikers prepare to receive the ball, a quality first-touch is an essential weapon in your team’s attacking armoury.

So, it’s time to sharpen the finishing abilities of your strikers, because practice makes perfect. Even Manchester City marksman Sergio Aguero has to practice his finishing in the final third. Recently his manager, Pep Guardiola, said he thought the striker was getting too overexcited when he was trying to finish chances, so the player was instructed to calm down when he received the ball in a scoring position.

Score in a split second

A player like Aguero will take just a split second to see a chance and hit the shot first time with control and accuracy. When Manchester City were seconds away from losing the title to their city neighbours on the last day of the 2011-12 season, it was Aguero in the fifth minute of injury time who saw the chance and hit an unstoppable shot into the corner of the net. It looks simple but that kind of simplicity takes practice.

Inspire young strikers

These are the types of players who can inspire your own young strikers to greater heights and you, as a coach, can take advantage of this admiration, citing the hard work and dedication that it takes to become a marksman like Aguero or Sterling. Tell your players that focused practice is the only way to make them the best goalscorer in their league – you’ll find that it’s a good way to get them putting lots of effort into hitting the net during your training sessions.

Often young strikers decide to take just one more touch, and then just one more, in an attempt to get closer to the goal and to make hitting the target easier. But this allows time for defenders to get back and make a tackle, or to narrow the angle of the shot, making it difficult for the forward to score. It can be a big cause of frustration for the coach, so if this sounds familiar, use the activities below and encourage your strikers to shoot at just the right moment.

Seeing the chance and hitting the shot is not something players do automatically – they need to practice so they recognise during a game when that situation has occurred and they can react accordingly. If you can get your strikers to react like Sergio Aguero, you will see your ‘goals scored’ tally rising quickly.

TOP TIPS FOR SHOOTING WITH EVERY CHANCE

If you want your team to score more goals, your strikers need to take every chance they get…
> Strikers need to make runs into the penalty area to support midfield passes.
> They should hit shots hard and low with good accuracy for maximum chances to score.
> If a cross comes in, forwards should connect with it first time, keeping their head over the ball and their shot down.
> It’s important for strikers to relax when the chance comes so they don’t mishit shots.
> They should know where they are in relation to the goal and their support players at all times.

Dave Clarke

Dave has excellent coaching credentials, having coached U9s - U16s at grassroots level for over 20 years. He holds a UEFA B license and is qualified in FA Youth Award modules 1, 2 and 3, as well as the Coerver Youth Diploma Module.

Soccer Drills

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Clever out wide

Improve your wingers’ quality of delivery into the feet of attackers, who need to escape their markers and score.

Split defence and finish

This lively activity helps forwards to make well-timed runs beyond the back line and create a 1v1 with the goalkeeper.

Continuous crossing

Help your players hone their crossing skills – this game will help them get the ball into the box at the right time.

Step up to win the ball

Encourages players to push out of defence to claim possession of the ball before it reaches dangerous areas.

Coaches Testimonials

Gerald Kearney, Downtown Las Vegas Soccer Club

"I have been coaching competitive soccer for over 20 years in Las Vegas. I feel like you are my personal club director. My players and myself have learned a lot from your sessions. The exercises from Soccer Coach Weekly are easy to understand and implement. I never run out of ideas and there is always an exercise for whatever problem we need to fix. Thank you!"

Paul Butler, Florida, USA

"First and foremost, Soccer Coach Weekly is truly unique and exceptional for its clarity and for explaining the "why?", in addition to the "how?". Soccer Coach Weekly is also professionally managed - any issues, which are infrequent, are resolved in an expedient and courteous manner. I place Soccer Coach Weekly at the top of my recommendation list for any new or seasoned coach of the beautiful game."

Rick Shields, Springboro, USA

"I coach both young club players as well as players at the High School level and both genders. The talent range is wide at times, however with the use of Soccer Coach Weekly I am able to apply the information to all talent levels and player ages and make the session fun and challenging for all players. It has helped spark me at times when I am at a loss for what to do at the next training session or offers a different approach to a current problem."

Tony Green, Pierrefonds Titans, Quebec, Canada

"My team and myself are truly enjoying the Soccer Coach Weekly downloads. Pierrefonds Titans are a great group of U16 Females who compete in the Lac St-Louis Association of Montreal, Quebec, Canada."