Ever wondered what would be like if your kids do not know the skill of shooting the ball? Shooting is needed to score a goal. So, you must include shooting instructions and drills in your youth soccer drills to enable the kids to compete in the game.
It’s best to always train the players in basics first. When kids soccer drills requires the players to shoot the ball, train them to do it rapidly without hesitating. The ball should always be shot away from the goalkeeper. While shooting, the body weight should be put into the kick. The kids should watch where they kicked the ball and move in that very direction in the anticipation of another kick.
The players will find it really difficult to kick the ball accurately with their ball and should therefore not attempt it. Whenever the ball is shot with the toe, the ball will go straight especially if it is kicked right in the center.
In the same way, if at all the ball is kicked is to the right of center of the toe, the ball will go right and likewise for left.
Five-Ball Kick shooting drill as a part of youth soccer drills: You need five balls, a goal, a goalkeeper, and cones to perform this. The players are divided into two parts, team A and team B. This drill can be acted upon in youth soccer practice by displaying five cones in a straight line across the surface line of the penalty box. These cones serve as signs where the ball must be placed.
Now players should attempt to shoot the ball into the goalpost. If the players engage their right foot to hit the ball, the balls should be on the left side of the cones and vice versa. Engage Team A in kicking the balls and team B in collecting and replacing them. Place the balls so that the players are bound to take a few steps between the kicks.
Every player should hit 5 balls into the goalpost without stopping. Each ball that makes it into the goal is a point. Now let team B practice kicking the ball and team A in gathering them. After team B has also finished, let team A take over and kick the ball using the opposite foot.
The team that has most number of points wins. This drill in youth soccer coaching especially teaches the players to shoot and trace the location of the goals. It also requires them to shoot quickly and teaches to use both the feet.
Your next step should be to make your kids practice what you’ve just learnt in their youth soccer drills.
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Andre Botelho is an expert in Youth soccer drills. He influences over 35,000 youth coaches each year with his coaching philosophy, and makes it easy to explode your players' skills and make training fun in record time. Download your free Youth Soccer Drills guide at: Soccer Training.