Once you feel good on these quick shots, creating space and striking rapidly, work on it on the run, dribbling towards goal, taking a touch, and shooting. [2] X Research source
Follow through towards your target. For headers, this means your shoulders will turn to face the goal. For kicks, the indicator is usually your hips, which will turn with the shot to face goal on accurate finishes. This skill is almost useless if you’re standing still. Always jog, move, or attack the ball on the run, even in practice. It is rare to have time to stand still in a game with the ball approaching the box.
Juggling is a great way to practice full body touch, but only if you challenge yourself. See how high you can get the ball and still maintain control. Hit long balls with a friend. Start about 20 yards away, and slowly get further and further. As you get better, pick up the speed between controlling and hitting the ball back. Hit against a wall, drilling shots or crosses at a hard surface and reacting quickly to trap the rebound. [3] X Research source
Get a close friend or teammate and challenge them to 1v1 drills. Simply make a thin rectangle and alternate attacking and defending. Crossing the opposite end line with control of the ball is a “goal. " You don’t always get to beat a defender straight up – sometimes you have to shield and control the ball with your back to goal, too. [6] X Research source You can work on moves by yourself. Set up a box and work on dribbling, cutting, and throwing moves at full speed, staying inside the box to work on control.
Note that you want your team to shoot, not just you. Some forwards will get lots of direct chances, others will feed their partner forwards with good chances and take only a few themselves.
Always be on a light jog, or on the balls of your toes, to get the jump on defenders when space opens up. They’ll be looking to close down space as you try to fill it. Keep your eye on your other forward(s). Timing runs to weave and criss-cross with them will throw the defense for an enormous loop. [8] X Research source
This is also the best strategy to avoid offside traps, letting you go from jogging to sprinting once the ball is played instead of trying to hit full speed from standing. Curling runs are great for making time and space. Instead of sprinting into the box straight on, take a curving path as the ball is coming down the wings, then cut straight in once the ball is in the air. Your curling run lets you approach the box on the run while still letting you change directions quickly.
Always look over your shoulder quickly as you check. If you caught your defender sleeping you may have more time with the ball than you think. [10] X Research source
The wings are a good place to really challenge defenders. They usually have little support, and a turnover is much easier to win back with the sideline to your advantage. Don’t take on defenders if you’re near the half-field unless you’re sure you can beat them – a turnover here is particularly dangerous. Even if you lose the ball, no defender wants to be under pressure all game. They will start to break down and make mistakes. It only takes a 1 goal difference to win or lose a game, and you want that goal to be in your favor!
It is very, very difficult to clear the ball on defense when facing your own goal. Make this job even harder and you’ll pick up a few easy goals a season. [12] X Research source
The high forward, used to hold onto the middle of the field and create space, is often called a center forward. They are big targets who hold up the ball and create offensive space for others. Wing forwards, or wingers are basically offensive outside midfielders. They must be excellent one-on-one dribblers with great speed and crossing ability. Strikers often hold underneath a center forward who controls the ball with his/her back to goal. Their goal is to get the ball to a striker in a dangerous position, making the striker your fastest ball-handler and shooter.
If there are two center strikers, try staggering yourselves with one up higher and one sitting closer to the midfield. This opens up space for both of you to each sideline, as well as for dangerous combination play in the middle.
Shooting, even when you don’t score, is useful. As defenses feel shots coming from further out, they will push up to prevent you from shooting more often. This often opens up space behind them for through passes and crosses. [14] X Research source
As soon as your team wins the ball, get out as wide as possible. This will stretch the defense considerably, making tons of space for you and others. Depending on the team formation, a winger may be expected to play a lot more defense than most forwards. Be sure to coordinate this with your coach and outside backs. [15] X Research source
Watch both teams’ strikers. How does their movement differ? What do the strikers do in different parts of the game? If a team is winning, they tend to sit back, whereas losing teams like to push strikers up further to create goal-scoring opportunities.
