Every player should have the ability to shoot on goal. Whether you’re a forward, a midfielder, or a defender, everyone will eventually have a chance to shoot the ball. However, since there are always other players on the field trying to stop you from shooting on goal, it’s a good idea to practice getting shots on goal in conjunction with dribbling.
The drills for this week focus on both dribbling and shooting and helping you couple the two skills together in order to become a bigger threat when attacking the goal.
Drill 1: Single Cone Shooting Drill
This is the simplest drill of the four this week. All you need for this drill is a cone, a ball, and a goal. To do this drill, simply dribble at the cone. When you get to the cone, do a move, dribble around it, and take a shot on goal. The purpose of this drill is to get you used to doing a move, then taking a shot.
Drill 2: Single Cone Shooting Drill With a Gate
This drill is a lot like the first drill, except that we’re adding an extra element – the gate. Do the same thing as before, only now, after you do your move and before you shoot, touch the ball through the gate. The gate forces you to control the ball after you do your move. This helps you practice keeping the ball close to you even after you do a move so it’s more difficult for a defender to steal the ball.
Drill 3: Slalom With a Gate and a Shot
One of the best drills for practicing keeping the ball close while you dribble, the slalom can also be a great shooting drill. Set up 8 cones in a straight line, and 2 more as a gate at the end of the line. Dribble through the cones, then through the gate before taking a shot on goal. This drill helps you practice taking a bunch of quick touches before dribbling the ball clear and taking a quick shot.
Drill 4: W-Drill with a Gate and Shot
While the drill above focused on using very small, quick cuts before shooting, this drill focuses more on your wide turns. Set 5 cones up in a W-Shape, and another two as a gate. Dribble around the cones in the W, then touch the ball through the gate and take a shot. This drill helps you practice taking very sharp cuts, then integrating an extra touch and a shot.
Remember that even if you are a defender, these are important skills for you to have, because you will be supporting your attacking players and opportunities will arise to get shots on goal.
Are there any drills that you do to work on your shooting? Let me know in the comments below!
For more free individual soccer drills, visit our free drills section.
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