Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Shooting- approach and angle (Start Time: 2025-06-20 12:25:00)

Screen 1 (beginning) (10 mins)

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

The purpose of the drill is to get a shot on target from each of three different posistions (right, left, centre) with a short slow approach so that technique and skill can be discussed/taught.

One player approaches each cone (right, left, centre) where a ball is placed a few paces in front of each cone. Player will then take a short approach from cone and strike ball at goal from that position before moving to next 'strike zone' in order right, left, centre.

Two players will be behind goal line (either side of goal) to collect and reset balls after each player has taken a shot from all of the strike zones.

After three shots (one from each strike zone) and balls have been reset player will rotate to posistion anti-clock wise of start their posistion.

Cone posistion can be placed closer to, or further from goal to progress/regress at this stage

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

Challenge is to approach the ball correctly so that anchor foot provides the desired support to enable a solid and accurate strike.

Goal is undefended so target expection would be that all three shots are scoring.

To progress drill further a point system could be introduced that rewards target areas of the goal being hit (eg. into the corners, low or high).

To further progress drill striker has to hit the ball from the side (right or left) with foot correlating to that angle ensuring (in majority of players) at least one shot of the three is hit with weaker foot.

Mechanics

Correct angle of approach (measured steps ensuring correct foot is in position for impact)

Keep your eye on the ball

knee over the ball and posture leaning forward to ensure ball stays below cross bar height.

body posistion towars the goal to assist accuracy

angled foot (pointed down) and laces part of foot on impact to encourage power

Skill/Small sided (25 mins)

Adaptations (Progressions & Regressions):

Final stage of drill see the striker approaching each of the strike zones but this time ball is fed in (rolling) to each zone. The striker is fed a moving ball while on the move themselves starting from singular point between each shot. Can be further progressed/regressed by adding or limiting touches (control and shoot or hit first time).                                                                   At this stage a goalkeeper can be introduced to further add a challenge to the drill and encouarge accuracy of shot.

Challenges, Conditions or Targets:

Challenge here is that both components of the drill (player and ball) are moving.              Player needs to anticpate direction of ball, think quickly and adjust their own speed/angle to get a sucessful shot away and beat extra challenge being the goal keeper. Target is obviously to score. Extra consideration is passing effectiveness of the players feeding.                              This part demonstrated the skill of the player having been shown the technique to implement it live while looking to achieve the goal.                                                                                          This could be further progressed/regressed by player having to call/point to cone they want the ball fed to, the player not knowing at start of approach which cone ball will be played to and having to adjust mid run. This can be brought into a small sided game by having set zones (similar to ones in drill) that only shots can be taken from.

Mechanics

As on previous stages of same drill