Ask most players what they want to work on and they'll say shooting. The instinct is to blast the ball as hard as possible — but accuracy wins far more games than power. This drill trains you to pick a spot and hit it; with good technique, the power comes on its own.
What it builds
Shooting accuracy, striking technique, and the habit of choosing a target before you pull the trigger. It also trains composure — the ability to slow down in front of goal instead of rushing.
Worth knowing before you start: at youth level, the majority of missed shots go over the bar, not wide. Almost all of those come from one fault — leaning back. If a player fixes only that, their conversion rate climbs before they've improved anything else.
How to set it up
Place two targets in the goal — cones in the bottom corners, or aim for the junction of post and crossbar. Set a ball at the edge of the box.
No goal available? Two cones against a wall, one metre apart, with a chalk line at knee height. Anything below the line and between the cones counts. This works in a driveway and is genuinely most of the value.
Distance by age
- Ages 6–9: 8–10 metres. Any further and technique collapses into swinging.
- Ages 10–12: 12–16 metres, roughly the edge of the box on a small pitch.
- Ages 13+: 16–18 metres for placement, out to 25 for driven work.
How to do it
- Pick a target before you start your run-up, and say it out loud.
- Plant your non-kicking foot beside the ball — level with it, about a foot to the side — pointing at the target.
- Strike through the middle of the ball with your laces, ankle firm, toe pointed down.
- Aim low. Low shots are much harder for a keeper to reach, because they have to go down rather than up.
Know your finishes
- Side-foot placement: for accuracy from close range. Pass it into the corner rather than blasting it. This is the finish that scores most youth goals and the one players practise least.
- Laces drive: for power from distance. Lock the ankle and follow through.
- Low and hard: the highest-percentage finish at any level — keepers struggle most with shots to the bottom corners.
A 20-shot session that beats 100 rushed ones
- Shots 1–5: side-foot placement, strong foot, still ball. Call the corner each time.
- Shots 6–10: side-foot placement, weak foot.
- Shots 11–15: laces drive, strong foot, one dribble touch before striking.
- Shots 16–20: one-touch off a rolled pass, alternating feet.
Score it out of 20 and write it down. A player who goes from 6/20 to 13/20 over a month has visible proof they're improving — which matters far more for a ten-year-old's motivation than any coaching cue.
Common mistakes
- Leaning back. This sends the ball over the bar. Keep your head and chest over the ball to keep it down.
- Choosing power over placement. A well-placed 70% shot beats a wild 100% one every time.
- Deciding late. Pick your target early so you're not adjusting at the last second.
- Wrong plant foot. If your standing foot points away from goal, the shot follows. Point it at your target.
- Long run-ups. Two or three steps is plenty. More just adds error.
Troubleshooting
- Everything sails over. Leaning back, or striking under the ball. Cue: “nose over the ball at contact.”
- Everything drags wide of the near post. Plant foot too far behind the ball, so the body opens up. Move it level with the ball.
- Shots have no power despite a big swing. Toe is pointing up. Point it down and lock the ankle — power comes from a rigid foot, not a hard swing.
- Hits the target in practice, misses in games. Practising only still balls. Move to the one-touch and off-a-pass variations; a rolling ball is a different skill.
- Sore top of the foot. Striking with the toes rather than the laces. Slow down and rebuild the contact point.
Watch it in action
Progressions
- On the move: add a dribble before the shot instead of striking a still ball.
- Off a pass: have someone roll it in from the side so you finish a moving ball.
- One-touch: strike first time — the most game-realistic finish of all.
- Weak foot: take a full set of shots with your weaker foot. Defenders punish one-footed players.
- Called corner: someone shouts “left” or “right” as the ball is rolled in. Removes the luxury of pre-planning.
- Tired legs: ten press-ups or a short sprint before each shot. Games rarely give you fresh legs in the box.
How often to practise
Quality beats quantity with shooting. Twenty focused, well-struck shots per session, two or three times a week, will do more than a hundred rushed ones. Rest between shots so each one is deliberate.
One safety note: heavy shooting volume is hard on growing knees and hips. If a young player is complaining of pain below the kneecap, cut shooting volume and see a physio — that's a common growth-related issue, not something to train through.
Build up with our cone weave and wall passing drills, and gear up from our soccer range.