Score goals is something that everyone loves to do, and there is no position that is more focused on scoring goals than a striker. However, there is much more to scoring goals than just finding the back of the net, and there is a lot more to being a striker than just getting goals.
To become the best striker you can be, focus on these five things.
Finishing
Obviously, all good strikers need to have the ability to finish. Finishing encompasses a wide range of skills ranging from technique to timing, composure, and maturity. Unsurprisingly, practice is the best way to become good at finishing.
It is worth considering the type of situation you will be practicing for when you are practicing soccer shooting, as there are an endless number of drills which can help develop a striker’s finishing ability.
Here are a few examples:
- 1-on-1s
- Counter attacks
- Crowded box
- Long-distance
- Direct free-kicks
- Corners and indirect free-kicks
- Penalties
In such situations, strikers will have a variety of different types of finishes available to them. Picking the one that is most suitable for a given situation is a skill that will be developed through experience.
Here are some examples of finishes:
Basic Finishes
- Laces shot
- Toe poke
- Side-foot
- Curved shot
Expert Finishes
- Volley
- Half-volley
- Outside foot
- Chipped shot
- Backheel
- Rabona
- Knuckleball
First Touch
A solid first touch is something that may not seem to be as obvious as finishing ability, but perhaps just as important to a striker as finishing ability is. Without a solid first touch, you may find yourself robbed of the opportunity to shoot before it even comes to you.
This is because good first touches allow strikers to execute their shots well. They can give you time, space, and most importantly, options. First touches can be developed through a series of drills that are designed to mimic game situations.
As the ball will rarely arrive nicely at your feet, it is important to become familiar with controlling the ball in the air, positioning yourself to receive a pass from another player, and learning when and when not to take heavy touches on the ball.
Link-up Play
In today’s modern formations, there is usually just one striker at the top of the pitch, but it does not mean that link-up play is any less important. Being able to bring your teammates into play with clever passing and movement will allow a striker to make just as much of an impact as possible.
In spite of the fact that passing is not the most important attribute for a striker, being able to consistently and accurately pass short five-yard passes is extremely important. In the event that the striker is unable to execute basic passes, they may lose possession and momentum of their team and break down attacking moves.
A good way to improve link-up play is by practicing with teammates and communicating effectively with them in order to make it more effective.
Spatial Awareness
In spite of the fact that it is easy to overlook, yet is essential for the best strikers, is a great sense of spatial awareness. The movement off the ball can be just as crucial as the movement with the ball, and this all comes down to understanding space.
When it comes down to it, a good sense of spatial awareness is best developed through experience, however it can be further enhanced by watching soccer. It all comes down to understanding where you need to be on the pitch, and how others relate to you.
Confidence
There is an intangible quality that separates the best strikers from the rest. Confidence can make or break a striker and is often the missing ingredient for misfiring players.
Confidence must come from within, but there are things that you can do to help you improve yours. Determination and self-belief will go a long way to producing confidence. Even if you don’t score or even play well, you have to remember that you are good and don’t give up on your dreams. It will eventually turn your luck around if you never give up.
Once you’re scoring consistently and playing well, confidence is a given.
Backheel
It’s hard to imagine how many skills are as simple yet effective as a well-timed back heel. Unfortunately, in practice, there’s only a little to a back heel other than lifting your foot above the ball and kicking it backward with your heel.
There is no doubt that learning how to pull out a back heel is easy, but mastering it may take some time. Knowing when to pull out a backheel will come with practice, but it is a skill that can be practiced on the playground.
Kick Ups
As with the back heel, the kick-up is another relatively simple skill you can practice on the playground. As with the back heel, the primary method of kicking the ball is to use your feet. Again, the goal is to keep the ball in the air for as long as possible.
Kickups will take some time, especially for younger children, because they require balance and precise form. They can be used as a part of a match scenario when the ball is in the air, but you should use them sparingly!
Elastico/Flip Flap
As we move on to a more complex skill, the elastic is far from easy, but if you manage to pull it off, you can be sure that people will have a few questions. Again, there are many things to consider, but this can become second nature with some practice.
As you perform the elastic, you must push the ball with the outside of your foot at a 45-degree angle. As you do this, move your body in the same direction as you are making the ball, and then snap the ball quickly in the opposite direction with your instep.
Stepover
Taking it back to something a little simpler, the stepover is a well-known but impressive skill to master at a high level. Starting with just one or two stepovers keeps things relatively straightforward and is all you need to start.
When running with the ball, throw a foot over and around the ball to leave your opponents guessing. When running with the ball, throw a foot over and around the ball to leave your opponents guessing.
Trivella
As a skill associated with former Portugal international Quaresma, the traveler looks simple but requires a fair amount of technique.
When you perform a trivella, you must point your foot away from the ball to make solid contact with the outside of your foot, which will generate spin on the ball as you make solid contact with it. The trivella is essentially a shot or pass with the outside of your boot. Initially, it may seem unnatural, but once mastered, it is one of the best tricks you can do to surprise people.
Rainbow Flick
A rainbow flick may be the trickiest and flashiest skill, but once you’ve nailed it, it’s a real show-stopper.
If you step in front of the ball with your weakest foot, push it up against your heel as you slowly raise your more muscular foot and hop with your soft foot, using it to backheel the ball over your shoulder. Keep your eyes on the ball as it drops in front of you. If you step in front of the ball with your weakest foot, then push it up against your heel as you slowly raise your more muscular foot and hop with your weak foot, using it to backheel the ball over your shoulder. Again, keep your eyes on the ball as it drops before you.
This skill requires a lot of practice to get right!
Conclusion:
As a striker, you will naturally go through ups and downs, even if you are the best of the best. With practice and effort, you will become a better striker by combining some of the tips above.
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