Soccer Striker Tips and Tactics

Finishing

Finishing will largely define the value of a forward. Finishing and goal scoring ability improves through repetition. Forwards should arrive early or stay behind after practice and shoot 50-100 balls on goal. Practice finishing into the bottom and top corners of the goal. If you have access to a goalkeeper have them make every attempt to save your shots to test your finishing ability. Also practice 1 v 1 breakaways against an advancing goalkeeper. If you do not have a goalkeeper place a cone 2 yards inside each goal post, and try and aim shots between the cone and the post. Assume anything more central than the cones and post will be saved by the goalkeeper. Practice shooting balls in a number of ways;

• Left foot only.
• Right foot only.
• One time shot.
• Bouncing ball.
• Volleyed shots.

A forward should always have the urgency to get quality shots on target away quickly. Getting shots away quickly can make it difficult for a goalkeeper by not allowing him to set. It also reduces the chance of defensive pressure blocking the shot. Created with Coachfx

Click here to view the Advancing Goalie Drill

Playing with Back to Goal

Strikers will not always receive the ball in shooting range or during a breakaway on goal. Against quality opposition strikers will often find themselves with their back to goal and under defensive pressure, this can occur up to the halfway line 50 yards from goal. A forward must develop the ability to play productively in these positions. The best option is often to pass the ball off and make a second run to receive the ball in a more dangerous position the next time. Alternatively if the player receives the ball inside the opposition half, and can shield and hold off defensive pressure for 2-3 seconds that can be enough time for attacking support to arrive from the midfield areas.

A common form of attack used is for a forward to check and receive the ball into feet, before passing to the wide midfielders and running forward in position to get on the end of a cross. A player can also one time pass it back to the central midfielders who can look for the other forward or a wide player. Often the act of checking to the ball can suck the back line out of shape and be very effective as illustrated in the drill below; Created with Coachfx

Drill

Click here to view the drill

In the drill the striker has checked to the ball and received a pass into feet with his back to goal. The midfielder will time a pass back to the checking striker. This will allow the midfielder to send a through ball in front of the other forward behind the area where the defender has been sucked high and out of position. This is a move that can be rehearsed during practice.

Penetrating the Back Line

Forwards who are fast should look to stretch the back line and provide the opportunity for a through ball by their team. While this pass should not be very attempted every time, the threat of it can force a back line to worry about the space behind them consistently. This can lead to a defensive unit being less aggressive and sitting back providing more space to your midfield to pass the ball around. A team that does not possess the threat of penetration can become very predictable.

Crossed Balls

Forwards must have the ability to convert quality crossed balls in to goals, or at least a shot or header on target. Forwards should work together to avoid both making similar runs and have the ball miss them both. One forward should make a near post run, ensuring the goalkeeper does not catch under hit crosses without competition. The other forward should attack to middle to back post area. The knowledge of a runner behind allows the near post runner to be aggressive without fear of the ball going over her head.