Youth Soccer
"Scoring Goals - It's a Matter of Attitude"

I know all of you coaches, and your players, have watched those videotapes of the great goals. Remember those "crackers", the magic of the juggle and juke.

But every goal can't be a great goal. You have to make your players aware of this.

Each goal counts "one." Great goals still count "one." Bottom line, put the ball in the goal. It doesn't have to be pretty.

Scoring goals is an attitude. You have to want to score to be good at it.

I've heard some coaches say, "he/she isn't a great goal scorer. He/she is just in the right place at the right time, and get all the garbage goals."

Well, don't sell that player short. You can't teach being in the right place at the right time. It's a gift.

Coaches often bring up tall defenders for corner kicks. That works, but that defender has to want to score. No good if he/she hangs back and wait for the service to come to him/her.

Attack the ball and head it in the goal!

Inside the box an attacker often has only the goalkeeper to beat. Sometimes it is best to play the shot like you would play a pass. Pass the ball with the side of the foot through the space between the goalkeeper and post.

Keep the ball low on those passes. Make the goalkeeper do down for the save. Don't bring the ball up to the goalkeeper's hands…and for goodness sakes, don't shoot the ball right at the goalkeeper.

Teach you're attacking players to be calm inside the box and not panic, but they must also speed up play on the ball. The defense wants to slow down the play and contain. Attack with quickness and finish!

Repetition in shooting builds instinct, but the key here is quality repetition. The striking of the ball is very important, but also the glance at target before the shot, and visual awareness can't be overemphasized.

Koach Karl suggests using the 'Buzz' words: "Push" - "Peek" and "Place" when working on improving the shooting technique:

Say the word "Push" (out loud) and tell the foot to put the ball slightly ahead of you.

Say the word "Peek" (out loud) and tell your eyes to look up and find the net. Be aware that keepers wear bright colored jerseys to attract the eyes and it is crucial for the 'shooter' to see the net prior to 'placing' the ball. The minds-eye records the target where the ball will eventually be 'placed.'

Say the word "Place" (out loud) to put the ball into the part of the net just observed.

Self-talk helps in forcing the player to concentrate and at the same time it gives the coach a 'clue' as to what the player is concentrating on…!

'Push' 'Peek' and 'Placed'

A habit that should never be erased