Drills / On your own

Strike the corners

Push the ball out of your feet and strike it low into a corner. Accuracy first, then power.

Players
Just you, or with a friend in goal
Space
A goal, or a wall with two targets
Kit
1 to 5 balls, 2 cones
Time
15 minutes
Age
All ages
You
  • Us
  • Them
  • Pass
  • Run
  • Dribble

Set up

  • Put the ball about 8 m from the goal (11 m for older players).
  • Put a cone just inside each post to mark the corners you are aiming for.

How it works

  1. Take one touch out of your feet, to the side.
  2. Strike with your laces, low, into one corner.
  3. Five to the left corner, five to the right. Count how many go in the right side of the cone.

What to work on

  • Standing foot beside the ball, pointing at the target.
  • Head and knee over the ball keeps the shot low.
  • Toe pointed down, ankle locked, strike through the middle of the ball with your laces.
  • Land on your kicking foot as you follow through.

Easier

Strike a still ball with the inside of the foot first, for accuracy.

Harder

Dribble in from the side and shoot without stopping. Or shoot with your weaker foot.

Skills this works on: striking with the laces. Each one has a close-up drawing of the feet.

Especially good for: central midfielder, attacking midfielder, winger and wide midfielder, striker.

Safety. Only shoot at a goal or a wall with nobody behind it. Goals must be pegged down or weighted: never shoot at a goal that could tip over.

Try next

Drills that work the same skills.