4 Soccer Drills to Shoot Better While on the Move |
By: Valerie Prause
Provided by: STACK You can't win if you don't score goals. Scoring chances come rarely throughout a soccer match, so it's important to capitalize on the ones that do. Even more rarely do goals come off a stationary shot. Often you are moving toward a teammate's pass, a rolling or bouncing ball, or dribbling on the move toward the goal. Soccer is a game of movement, so it is crucial to work on shooting while on the move with different soccer drills. It is all about repetition and practice. Here are four soccer drills that will help you work on shooting while on the move in different situations: 1. Shooting off the Dribble • Set up 6 cones about a yard apart in a line starting 10 yards outside the box. • Starting on one side of the cones, dribble through them as quickly as you can. • As soon as you get through, push the ball ahead and get a shot on goal as quickly as you can. It's important to pick your head up before you take the shot so you can spot where the goalie is. You should be just outside the box when you take the shot. • After 10 shots, switch to the other side of the cones and use your other foot for a shot at the end. • You can place the cones in different areas so that you have shots coming from different angles. 2. Shooting from a Cross (Part a) For this drill, you need two cones and a partner. It will help you practice controlling your shot inside the box as your movement brings you forward. • Place one cone on the penalty spot and one on the corner of a D at the top of the box. • Set up the server and a bag of balls on the post opposite where the cone is set up. • Starting on the penalty spot, quickly backpedal around the cone at the top of the box and run back toward the first cone. • As you are getting around the cone and starting to run back toward the middle, your partner plays a rolling ball out for a one-touch shot. • Do 5 rounds of 10 shots, then switch to the other post and come from the opposite angle. As you perform this drill, take a look at the goal to locate the goalie. Since you're moving forward toward the ball with momentum, it is unnecessary to place a lot of power on the shot. 3. Shooting from a Cross (Part b) Similar to the previous drill, but you come from a different angle. • Place one cone on the penalty spot and one on one corner of the 6-yard box. Your partner sets up on the opposite side of the 6-yard box. • Starting on the corner of the 6-yard box, run around the penalty spot. • As you round the corner, your partner places the ball just out in front of you for a one-time finish. • Do 5 rounds of 10 shots, then switch to the opposite side and use your other foot. Situations like this happen often when a teammate crosses a ball in front of the g0al or you have poor clearance from a defender. Practice how to shoot the ball from close range while your momentum is moving forward. You'll be more confident in games when the situation arises. 4. Shooting After Controlling Out of the Air With this drill, you work on taking the ball out of the air, controlling it and getting a shot off quickly while on the move. • Facing the goal, stand about 10 yards outside the 18-yard box. • Place one cone 4 yards to your right and another one 4 yards to your left. • Starting in the middle of the cones, take a ball, toss it in the air and settle it. • Once you settle the ball, get around the cone to your right, push the ball toward the goal and take a shot with your right foot. • Start back in the middle, but this time settle the ball and move around the cone to your left for a left-footed shot. • Use different surfaces of your foot while settling the ball. It's important to settle the ball and get moving around the cone as quickly as you can, since you won't have a lot of time in this area of the field. Once you get around the cone, you will need to use more power than on the previous shots, but it is still important to take a quick peek to locate the goalkeeper. This drill help you in situations where a ball bounces out around the box, and you want to quickly settle it to get a shot off. Practicing shooting while on the move, from different angles and in different situations, will help your body get familiar with the movements so that you will be ready for the game. Opportunities to score during a game of soccer are limited, and the difference between winning and losing often comes down to one goal. Practice these soccer drills so that you will be ready when your opportunity comes in the game! Photo Credit: Getty Images // Thinkstock |