| While participating in a soccer attack, you will find | | | | into the back of the net. This is a finesse shot. This is |
| yourself in many different scoring situations. Different | | | | an extremely useful shooting skill and my personal |
| situations will require you to use different types of | | | | favourite. If you practice this shooting technique |
| shooting skills. If you want to become a regular goal | | | | enough, you will significantly increase your ability to |
| scorer, you will have to practice at becoming a well | | | | score goals. |
| rounded shooter. The best players have the ability to | | | | Tips & Advice: |
| score from anywhere on the soccer field (well | | | | - Concentrate on meeting the outside or inside of |
| maybe not anywhere, but you get the idea).This | | | | your boots (near the toes) with the outside of the |
| article is an overview of some of the most common | | | | ball. |
| shooting skills, accompanied with some helpful | | | | - It's just like a pass. Imagine that open corner is a |
| shooting tips and advice. | | | | teammate; send him a strongly struck pass right to |
| 1) Strike. | | | | his feet. |
| For lack of a better term, I'm calling this shot a strike | | | | - Be calm. Take a deep breath. Pick your corner. Put |
| (actually I kind of like it; think it might stick). Strike: a | | | | the ball in the net. |
| hard shot with the laces of your boot. This is | | | | - Watch some of Lionel Messi's goals. He is easily one |
| probably most soccer player's favourite shot. There's | | | | of the best at this shooting skill in the modern game. |
| something very satisfying about smashing the ball | | | | 3) Chip. |
| into the back of net. It can be a very valuable shot, | | | | The chip is a very creative and valuable soccer |
| when used properly. | | | | shooting skill. It takes a lot of vision, courage, and |
| Tips & Advice: | | | | presence of mind, to pull off a properly executed |
| - Focus on shooting technique first, power second. | | | | chip. When preformed correctly, the soccer ball is |
| You'll be pleased with the results. | | | | lifted over the goalkeeper out of his/her reach, into |
| - Concentrate on meeting the laces of your boot, | | | | the back of the net. |
| flush with the center of the soccer ball. | | | | Tips & Advice: |
| - Follow through towards your target. Guide the | | | | - Concentrate on meeting the toes of your boot |
| soccer ball into the net. | | | | with the center and bottom of the ball. |
| - Don't try to kill the soccer ball. | | | | - Body positioning is very important. Lean back to get |
| - Get your body over the soccer ball (chest over | | | | more of an arc on the soccer ball. |
| ball); this will force the ball to stay lower. | | | | - The farther you want the soccer ball to go, the |
| - Aim! Most players just hit the soccer ball as hard as | | | | more you will have to emphasis the follow through. |
| they can, with no idea where it's going to go. Pick | | | | - Sometimes during a game you may find yourself |
| your corners. Always choose accuracy over power. | | | | with the goal keeper flying out towards your feet |
| 2) Finesse. | | | | with little room to get off a shot; instead of trying to |
| Neatly curl the soccer ball with the inside or outside | | | | finesse or strike the ball into the net, be confident |
| of your boot out of the reach of the goalkeeper, | | | | and try the chip. |