Soccer Shooting Drills for Kids

3 shooting drills for kids that are motivating and are suitable for young players starting from 7 years old. The kids learn to shoot specifically with the inside on an empty goal. Precision and a good shooting technique are the focus in these exercises. You as a coach should organize goal-shooting technique training with a high number of repetitions.

The drills are from the new book by Peter Schreiner “Goal Scoring Training System – Levels 01-04“.

Goal Shot after Cross Pass with Ball Control

Organization
Set up two cones each 7-9m from the goal as a closing line, two cones for the passers at the penalty area and two cones for the strikers (about 20m in front of the goal), the passers of both groups have one ball each, set up 2 dummies to indicate a gap in the defense.

• The first striker (B) starts diagonally at high speed. Halfway to the finish line, A passes parallel into B’s run.
• B takes the ball through the dummies and, at the shooting line, shoots flat and accurately with the inside or instep into the pre-determined target zone.
• The passers line up behind the strikers in their group, the strikers get their ball and line up behind the passers. Change sides after two complete passes.

Coaching Points

• Timing, length, sharpness and accuracy of the pass.
• The pace and direction of the approach to the ball, the stride length of the striker.

Shot on Goal after a Forward Pass with Ball Control

Organization
Trapeze with four cones, the scorers start at the height of the 11-meter point, the passers each have a ball at the edge of the penalty area, there are two target zones in the goal.

• The striker (B) runs parallel to the goal line from the starting cone to the second cone.
• Immediately before reaching the cone, the passer (A) plays a flat, accurate and well-timed pass into B’s path.
• The striker controls the ball briefly and shoots as flat as possible at the goal, gets the ball and lines up behind the passers, the passer becomes the striker.

Coaching Points

• Timing, direction, sharpness and accuracy of the pass.
• Secure and quick ball control before the shot.

Goal Shot after Taking the Ball to the Side (Opponent in Back)

Organization
At the height of the 11m point centrally in front of the goal, a row of cones (dummies) is set up, representing the action area of an opponent in the back, two target zones in the goal, face-off player with ball approx. 5 m centrally in front of the striker.

• The striker stands without the ball with his back to the goal in front of the middle cone.
• The passer plays a flat, accurate, and well-dosed inside sided pass.
• If possible, pass the ball to the side of the row of cones with one contact.
• Turning shot flat into the respective target zone.
• Striker gets the ball and the passer becomes the scorer.

Coaching Points

• The striker should already stand slightly open, shield the passed ball to the back (do not go against it).
• Goals only count outside the 5-meter area.

Common Mistakes

• Too lax passes.
• Too many contacts of the striker, no turning shot.

Variations

• Ball transfer to the left and to the right, depending on the approach.
• The passer runs after his pass and puts pressure on the striker.
• Before taking the ball, a running feint (body trick) to the other side.