It is almost certain that young players enjoy playing soccer the most when they are able to score maximum goals. When planning your practice schedule, you can include youth soccer drills that offer numerous opportunities to players to score goals.
These opportunities can be made available to them during small sided games, full field scrimmages, and shooting drills. It’s better to keep diverging the process in kids soccer drills, when performing small sided games and full field scrimmages.
It also works to practice games that don’t need a goalkeeper or where goalie’s participation can be restricted within limits. You can add more goals or widen the ones that are previously in use for the purpose of enhancing the chances of scoring more goals.
When young players improve in their shooting technique and the tactical knowledge about the shooting techniques, the chances of goal production are increased manifold. Similar to passing skills, players should be trained in shooting techniques as well at the beginner’s stage. These can be afterwards emphasized more when the player is in the later stages of his development.
In youth soccer practice, using drills to advance shooting skills is the most efficient method. In order to effectively score goals, shooting drills help in developing shooting skills of the players. Nonetheless, its better that a player’s shooting skills grow with time.
Several youth soccer drills can be planned in away that they develop the player’s shooting skills in the sequence given below;
1. A stationery player kicking a stationery ball.
2. A moving player shooting a still ball.
3. Moving ball being shot by a static player.
4. A moving player being shot by a moving player.
Youth soccer coaching should involve teaching the players to kick the ball effectively while shooting. Most players frequently take shots from a close range using the inside of their foot. This increases the shooting abilities.
Where the situation is such that strength is required to hit the ball, teach the players to use the instep of their foot to strike the ball. While their toes need to be downwards, the ankles should remain locked.
How the non-kicking foot is placed determines the elevation of the shoot. Teach players to put their non-kicking foot slightly ahead of the ball. This will keep the shot lower to the ground. Try to focus your player’s attention on striking the ball. You can remove everything that distracts the players such as moving players and balls.
As the players improve their shooting technique, raise the difficulty level in the practice games. For example; when their shooting competence improves, serve balls at various levels and speed.
So now, get out there and include a lot of shooting drills in your youth soccer drills for the training sessions.
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Andre Botelho is known online as “The Expert Youth Soccer Coach” and his free ebooks and reports have been downloaded more than 100,000 times. Learn how to skyrocket your players’ skills and make practice sessions fun in record time. Download your free ebook at: Soccer Training.
