How to be a Striker in Soccer!

Six-Step Guide to Striking in soccer!

1) Aim – Set your sights low

The most important thing is to target. What makes it much harder for the keeper to save though, is to aim for the bottom corner. During practice, make sure the ball’s moving around at match speed and shoot. This makes it more realistic as if you’re in a game. It trains you to be a split-second quicker, which is very crucial.

2)Deception – Wrong foot the keeper

One of the best things you can do to beat the keeper is to get an early shot. It sounds simple but every keeper, just before he dives, will jump on the spot to set themselves. If you can get a shot in quickly, he won’t have time to set himself before the ball’s in the net. When taking a penalty, shift the ball one way and shoot the other because if you move right and shoot left in one movement, the keeper will be wrong footed and your name will be on the scoresheet.

3) Beat the offside trap – Stay on the right side of the defence
One of the keys to staying onside is having good movement and dragging defenders out of position. Centre-backs don’t like it having to come deep or go out wide; if you can move them by getting in behind it should be easier as they’re not in a straight back line anymore. The other thing is to know your teammates. For example, if the playmaker in my team gets the ball, I know he might be looking to put me through in positions other players might not. If he’s on the ball, be ready to run in behind.

4) One on One – With just the keeper to beat

You have got to be confident and stay calm, if you’re not, you might take a touch you wouldn’t normally and rush a shot. In terms of what you can do, you might want to give the keeper the eyes ( look one way and play it another ). What I try to do is wait for him to make a move. This way, if he starts coming out to close you or dives at your feet, you can react and take it around him or chip him. But to do that, once again, remain calm and stay confident.

5) Converting a cross – Stay prepared

Converting a cross is all about timing. You need to get in the right part of the box as the ball’s coming in. To do this, again, you need to know the player. Let’s say, my team’s winger likes to cross balls at the far end of the post. It’s my job to get there. If I’m not there, it’s my mistake. Also, try to stand behind the defender just before the ball arrives. When the defender looks back to see where you were, you’re gone.

6) Hold it up – Keep the defenders on your back

This is about strength and getting your body in front of the defender. Sometimes, I might try and pull a player’s shirt or bully the defender so he knows I’m there. When getting a flick on, I might try and pin the defender back (by pushing back into his chest) and try to back-up. That puts a little space between the defender and the ball and gives me time to find a pass or try and turn.

Follow these six tips and you will be banging in goals on a regular basis, trust me!