Skill: Shooting

Poor finishing is a major reason why most teams that look good on paper flop on the turf. Teams can create chances -- that's an important part of attacking play -- but if the chances are not converted into goals then it is entirely useless. In soccer, the players easiest to remember, most of the time, are the goalscorers. It is the player who gets the goals who gets the credit most of the time.

Instep Drive

The instep drive shot is used to strike a rolling or stationary ball. The technique used is similar to that of the instep pass, except that the follow-through here is greater.

  1. Approach the ball at a slight angle.
  2. Place your non-kicking foot beside the ball.
  3. Kick the ball, and allow your leg to continue moving upwards, even after you have kicked the ball.
This is called the follow-through and it provides more power to your shot. When you limit your follow-through, you force your leg to stop after the ball flies. This movement cannot be precisely calculated and often the result is a rather weak shot.

Volleying the ball

Volleying the ball is used when the ball is in midair. Difficult to execute, volleys require precise timing and correct technique. The four different kinds of volley are the full volley, half volley, side volley and overhead volley.

Full Volley
  1. Move to where the ball is about to drop.
  2. Face the ball with your shoulders squared.
  3. Extend arms to the sides to keep balance.
  4. Kick the dropping ball.
  5. Complete the follow-through.

Half Volley

Similar to the full volley, the half volley is executed when the ball touches the ground, rather than when in midair as with the full volley.

  1. Move to where the ball is about to drop.
  2. Face the ball with your shoulders squared.
  3. Extend arms to keep balance.
  4. Kick the ball as it touches the ground.
  5. Complete the follow-through.

Side Volley

Used when the ball is bouncing at your side, the side volley is quite difficult to execute as it requires precise timing and a good sense of balance.

  1. Raise kicking leg by the side, parallel to ground.
  2. Draw back kicking leg, bending at the knee.
  3. Extend kicking leg, keeping weight on balancing foot.
  4. Front shoulder should be facing target.
  5. Kick the top half of the ball with your instep.
  6. Follow through, angling the kick slightly downwards.
  7. Drop kicking foot towards ground.

Overhead Volley

Considered the most spectacular and naturally the most dangerous of the volleys, the overhead volley hinges on precise timing.

  1. (While the ball is still high above you) Turn to make your back face the intended target.
  2. Watch the ball descend.
  3. When it is about head level, jump.
  4. In a scissors-like motion, kick the air beside of the ball with your non-kicking foot, then kick the ball with your kicking foot.

This, if executed well, makes for a great goal, while if it is badly done, could cause a bad back injury.

Swerving Shot

The most direct path to goal is not always the best. Shots that swerve in flight are difficult to catch, and might fool the most experienced of keepers. A swerving shot is executed in the following manner:

  1. Approach ball from behind and plant balancing foot beside the ball.
  2. Extend arms out to sides to keep balance.
  3. With the instep or the outside of the kicking foot, hit the ball either left or right of the vertical midline.
  4. Kick hard.
  5. Follow through to waist level or higher.