Soccer Shooting Drills
The best shooting drills give players lots of shots from realistic positions, with a goalkeeper and, soon after, a defender. These soccer shooting drills (football shooting drills in the UK) cover striking a lay-off, finishing crosses, and scoring in 1v1 and 2v1 situations.
Each drill is animated so you can see the setup and the runs before you put the cones out. Keep the lines short and rotate the server, so players shoot often instead of waiting.
Set and Finish: Soccer Shooting Drill
Pass into a target player, take the lay-off and shoot.
Crossing and Finishing Drill
A wide player crosses for two attackers making near- and far-post runs.
1v1 Soccer Drill: Beat the Defender and Score
A defender serves in and closes down; the attacker tries to beat them and score.
2v1 Soccer Drill: Attack to Goal
Two attackers commit one defender and finish.
Small Sided Game with Goalkeepers (5v5)
A game with keepers and full-size goals, to finish the session.
Coaching tips
- Always use a goalkeeper: finishing past a keeper is a different skill from hitting an empty net.
- Work on placement before power.
- Vary the angle and the service so players don't groove one shot only.
- Finish the session with a small-sided game so the shooting transfers to match situations.
Turn these drills into a session
Add any drill to the free session planner with one click: it arrives with its diagram, setup and coaching points, ready to print as a PDF. To change the numbers or animate your own version, open it in DrawTactics.
Open the free session plannerFAQ
How many shots should players get in a shooting drill?
Aim for each player to shoot every 30 to 60 seconds. If players are waiting longer than that, add a second goal or split into two groups.
Should youth shooting drills use a goalkeeper?
Yes, whenever possible. A goalkeeper makes shooting realistic and gives your keepers useful practice at the same time.