Practice 4 - Shooting
With the thoughts of the last scrimmage still in my head and also me still having no idea who could be a forward, I decided to do a session on shooting.

I had 12 players at the practice, and the practice was scheduled for 90 minutes.

Warm up
15 Minutes
I marked of a  40 x 40 area and had cones across the half way to make two 20 x 20 grids. This made it easier for setting up each of my exercises, because I am going to stay within this area all evening. Using the 20 x 20 grid, I started off with a fun game..........
  • Pick 2 / 3 girls to be a tagger. Give them a pinnie / vest to put on.
  • Give out 2 soccer balls to two of the girls that are not taggers. They must carry the ball.
  • The taggers cannot tag a player holding a soccer ball.
  • The taggers run around the area chasing the girls and trying to tag them.
  • Once a girl is tagged she freezes. To released, a player holding the ball can throw it to her. When she catches it, she is now free and goes to help another player.
  • Switch taggers.

Focus on:

  • Fun
  • Throw the ball only when you make eye contact with the player you are throwing the ball too.
  • Communication
  • Looking around the field to see what is happening.

This will also help you to look at the potential Goal Keepers.

 

15 Minutes - Shooting Technique. (Clean the field)

Using the two 20 x 20 areas, place 6 players, with their soccer balls in each half. A goal (two poles) is placed on the half way line.

  • The girls had to shoot the ball through the goal to the opposite side.

  • Which team can get rid of all their balls?

  • While you watch this, look at the technique your players are using. I had to stop the session, get all the girls to watch, and show them how to shoot a soccer ball. (using their laces to shoot, hit the middle of the ball, run at an angle, look at the target...........)

20 Minutes - Shooting Technique-2

I placed each group of 6 at a disc (as shown above).
  • Each player has a ball.
  • The first player from each side starts.
  • They dribble towards the goal and shoot.
  • Once they have shot, they join the opposite group.

Focus on:

  • Technique
  • The time to shoot.
  • The girls have to be realistic and think there is a GK in the goal.
  • Aim for the corners

Variation:

  • Move the teams to the other disc to their left.
20 Minutes - Fun Dribbling and shooting Game.

The two teams now stand on their goal line and link arms. the coach has all the balls.
  • Each girl from each team is numbered 1 - 6.
  • The coach calls out a number (one), and throws in a soccer ball.. Players number one from each team run onto the field and play a 1 v 1.
  • The remaining players must stay linked and try to save the shots.
  • Call out two numbers to create a 2 v 2, and so on.

Focus on:

  • Fun
  • All the aspects of shooting and dribbling.
20 Minutes - Scrimmage The girls were trying to incorporate the previous shooting skills. They worked so hard.

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