IMPROVE ACCURACY
Practices to improve accuracy in shooting · These practices are aimed at accuracy as opposed to the power in shooting - nevertheless players should be encouraged to strike the ball firmly and with the instep. · In these practices the coach can decide whether the ball should be kicked from a stationary position, or when it is rolling.
Simple practices for starters
Practice 1
In practice 1, A & B, two players 15 metres apart, one
ball. 3 corner flags placed 2 metres from the touchline (as in fig 1) and A tries to shoot past B - keeping the ball inside the area.
Practice 2
In figure 2, the goal is either a shooting board or wall, with sections drawn on it.
Player shooting 12 metres from goal.
Player A, now has to score points by hitting the different sections marked 1 - 5.
The coach can improve the competition by scoring points for difficult targets, like 2 & 4, and using various players to see who can score the most. · Should a player miss the goal the coach should deduct points - this encouraging accuracy from the players.
At a later stage the practice difficulty can be increased by (a) putting a goalkeeper in and (b) making the striker hit different types of service at the target, ie volley, rolling ball, half volley etc.
Practice 3
A variation on this practice can be brought about by placing 4 corner flags on the goal line, ie between regulation goal posts. · They can be spread as in figure 3 or placed altogether in the centre of the goal as in figure 4.
Practice 4
The distance, and type of service tot he striker can vary according to individual skill levels.
The main purpose in figures 3 & 4 is for a player 15 metres from goal to score into the goal without patting any of the corner flags.
Practice 5
Now we move ahead to striking the ball from the side or angle at the goal guarded by a goalkeeper (G) as in figure 5.
A is the striker
B, C & D servers, all serving varying types of service to A, who must try and hit the ball first time into the goal.
NB The different angles of service and also there must be different types of service - lob (to volley), pass (to shoot first time) OR control and Shoot.
Chest high serve, to control and hit as quickly as possible at the target.
A must be made to work quickly, even if he has to control the ball, with one or two touches, before shooting G must be encouraged to try and save all shots, A, B, C & D can change positions so that each one in turn appreciates the practice.
Practice 6
In figure 6 two corner flags are placed 5 metres in from the edge of the penalty area. A is the striker, B the server, G goalkeeper.
B serves to the right and left, A sprints from his position in the D - round the outside of the flag and shoots first time at the goal.
B can vary the service and can also widen the angle of the shot from A. · After A has fired at goal, C replaces him, then D follows C and so on, to maintain the continuity of the practice.
