Players email me with the same question all the time – “How do I become a better striker?” Obviously, to become a better striker, you could develop your dribbling skills or your fitness or your shooting. All of these things are important and contribute to making players better.
However, in addition to this, there are strategies that strikers can use to get more shots on goal. Sometimes, you can get more shots on goal simply by having a plan for HOW you’re going to get shots on goal.
This video gives a simple, 3 option strategy that soccer players can use to help them get clear of defenders long enough to get shots off.
Option 1 – If the shot’s there, take it!
Start off dribbling the ball and approaching the goal at an angle, usually just about at the corner of the eighteen yard box. As you reach the corner of the 18, look up and determine if your defender has given you enough space to take a shot. If so, take it! Try to get the ball up in the air and hit it hard enough that if it doesn’t go in, it might deflect off the goalkeeper so that another player can knock your rebound in.
Option 2 – If there’s no shot, do a fake
Usually, it’s not as easy as dribbling to the corner of the eighteen and taking a shot. Most likely when you’re approaching the corner, your defender will have you pretty well covered. If this is the case, take a fake shot, then take the ball across the top of the eighteen for 3-5 yards. Hopefully, your fake shot froze your defender in place long enough for you to get clear and have a shot on goal.
Option 3 – If there’s still not a shot, do another fake!
Sometimes, even if you do a great fake, you still can’t get clear of your defender to get a shot off. If this is the case, do it again! I know it sounds simple, but I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been playing in a game where I approach the goal, take a fake shot, work the ball across the top of the eighteen, take ANOTHER fake shot, push the ball clear and get a good shot on goal. Something about the second fake is very hard to defend.
Final Tip
One thing you need to remember as a striker is that you don’t need to force shots on bad chances. If you can’t get clear of your defender after two fakes, don’t just take a bad shot because you feel like you need to get a shot off. Retain the ball, look up and see if any of your teammates are open. Remember, retaining possession in the attacking half and working the ball around is far more valuable than a terrible shot nowhere near the goal. If your team keeps the ball, you still have a chance to score. If you kick the ball out of bounds, all of your hard work was for nothing.
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If you’re looking for some great resources to get you started on your soccer training journey, check out our individual soccer drills page. These drills are all free and are intended to help you grow as a player.
For something a little more in-depth, check out our soccer training guides section.
