Focused drills and games can help young soccer players develop their shooting skills as well as other skills such as dribbling, approaching the goal and placing the ball accurately. Alternate shooting drills to keep youngsters from getting bored.
Four Corners Shooting Game
Also sometimes referred to as "Steal the Bacon," this drill rotates players through a two-on-two competitive game with an emphasis on shooting. Divide the team into two groups and decide on a score for teams to work toward to win. Use cones to mark the boundaries of a small playing area, about 20 yards by 30 yards. Place a goal at either end. Designate one player from each group as the goalie. The remaining members of each team should line up at the two corners of their end of the field. Stand to the side of the playing area with a bag of soccer balls. Kick one ball at a time into the field. The first players in line at each corner should run toward the ball and try to score on the opposing team's goal. Play until one team reaches the decided upon score. You can vary the drill by awarding points for successful goals as well as shot attempts or even reaching the ball first.
Goal Wars
This drill helps young players practice dribbling and shooting. Set up two goals next to each other on the same side of the field with about 5 or 10 yards between them. Set a cone between the two goals. Divide the team into two groups and have one group line up about 30 yards in front of one goal and the other 30 yards in front of the second goal. Give each player a ball. When you blow the whistle, the first player in each line must dribble to the cone and around it in a circle before shooting at the goal diagonally opposite the line he started in. Continue until each player has taken a shot and then count the number of balls in each team's goal. The team that made the most shots wins.
Shooting Through Cones
This drill helps players improve the accuracy of their ball placement, an important skill for passing and shooting. Place cones about 4 or 5 yards apart in a line across the field. Divide the team into pairs and have the pairs stand on either side of a space separated by two cones. Instruct the players to begin shooting through the cones to each other from only a few paces away from the cones. Practice shooting through the cones at this distance for a few minutes, then instruct all the players to take several steps away from the cones. Continue practicing at each new distance until the players have to shoot between the cones from far away.
Obstacle Course Shooting Drill
This drill helps players develop their dribbling and their approach toward the goal. Divide the team into two groups and have each group line up behind a series of cones leading toward the goal. When you blow the whistle, the first player in each line must dribble around the cones to reach the goal and take a shot. Continue the drill until each player has had the opportunity to take multiple shots.
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