By Mike Saif
Question - I coach U14’s and my players can shoot with reasonable technique and good power, but we waste lots of goal chances by shooting over the crossbar or right at the goalkeeper. Even in training sessions with shooting drills, there is lots of powerful shots but so many of them go over the bar. What can I do to improve the accuracy of shooting for my players.
This is a great question. I handle this with an “attitude to shooting”. Like most 14 year olds, not much thought other than hitting it hard is given when shooting. This is where the coach needs to instill the importance of accuracy when shooting.
When a player would take a shot from let’s say 18 yards, and it would go over the crossbar, I would ask the player, “What corner of the goal were you aiming for?” The answer is obvious, they were not aiming for a corner of the goal, they were just thinking of shooting hard. So as a coach, it is our job to instill the importance of accuracy when shooting. We can do this by changing the attitude of players and by setting up shooting drills that reward accuracy more than power.
When I set up shooting drills, I always split the players into 2 or 3 teams and keep score to make it fun and competitive. I give players points based on where their shot finishes. For example, if the shots were from the right side of the penalty area, I would give points based on the diagram below. Extra points would be given if the ball hit the side netting without touching the ground first. As you can see, shooting over the crossbar is a big loss of 5 points and would often result in teammates ribbing each other.
Also notice that 3 points are given even if they miss the far post as long as it’s close. The idea of this is that the objective is to aim your shot low and to the far post. So if your shot just misses the far post, it is close and deserves points. Plus, in game situations, other attackers could get a touch on those shots and put them in the goal. But if your shot goes high, or to the middle or near post, then it didn’t go where it was aimed, so the points for those shots are less.
Give this a try with your shooting drills. Make it fun and competitive and remember, instilling an attitude of accuracy over power will help too.
Founder and President of WORLD CLASS COACHING, Mike has coached 12 State Championship teams and coached the 87G Dynamos to a USYS National Championship.
