Skill of the Week
SHOOTING

The Right Way

When you want to shoot at goal you must first make up your mind what kind of shot to take, whether you are going to shoot with the Inside, the Outside or the Top of your boot (see Different ways to shoot below).

Approach is important. Make sure your non-striking foot is alongside the ball when you kick.

Look up at your target.

Then focus down on the ball as you hit it.

Draw back your striking leg to give a powerful shot.

Follow through with your striking foot.

The Wrong Way

You won't succeed if your non-striking foot is too far behind the ball.

If you take your eye off the ball you might miss it entirely.

Don¹t stand too far to the side of the ball when you take your kick.


DIFFERENT WAYS TO SHOOT

1. Shooting with the Inside of the foot

The Inside of the foot gives the greatest accuracy, though it is not the most powerful form of shot.

The Inside of the foot is the one to use for

Free kicks.

Shooting close to the goal.

When you¹re taking a penalty.

Approach the ball from the non-striking side. This means, if you want to shoot with your right foot, then you should come at the ball from the left, not from straight behind it.

If you want the ball to curve in the air you should try to hit the ball with spin by approaching it from the side and striking it so that your foot is moving at an angle to the direction in which you want the ball to go.

If you want the ball to go high then strike it low.

If you want the ball to travel along the ground then strike the ball in the middle.

 

2.      Shooting with the top of the foot

Hitting the ball with the top of the foot on the laces as they say is the most powerful way to shoot.

The outside of the foot is the one to use for:

When the ball is moving

When you want the ball to fly straight at the target

When you want to beat the goalie with the sheer pace of the shot.

This shot is not suitable for when you want to put spin on the ball.

You can approach the ball from any angle.

You must hit the ball dead centre for maximum accuracy because this form of shot tends to make the ball rise.

If you hit the ball too low it will go far too high above your target.

3. Shooting with the Outside of the foot

Hitting the ball with the outside of the foot is the most difficult, but it can be the most effective, because it can combine the power of the top of the foot (laces) with the spin of the inside of the foot.

This shot was invented in Brazil by the legendary Didi in the 1950s and he went on to use it in the world cup winning Brazilian team of 1958. In Brazil people call this shot ŒFolha Seca¹ meaning Dry Leaf, because it causes the ball to twist in the air like an autumn leaf in the wind.

The correct approach to the ball is from behind but slightly to one side.

Unlike with the Inside of the foot, here you must approach the ball from the same side as your striking foot. This means, if you want to kick the ball with your right foot, then you must approach the ball from the right.

This is the favourite shot of the famous Roberto Carlos.