Striker
Score goals, make runs that pull defenders apart, and lead the press from the front.
Six-week programme for strikers
Where you stand
The same player, four different moments. Play it through and watch how the team's tactic moves you. You are the solid orange player; your teammates are orange rings.
Your job
What every coach will ask of you, whatever the tactic.
With the ball
- Run behind the defence, or drop short to link play. Doing both keeps defenders guessing.
- Hold the ball up with your back to goal, then lay it off or turn.
- Be in the box when the ball comes in: near post, far post or the penalty spot.
Without it
- You are the first defender. Curve your run to press the ball and cut off one pass.
- Make their goalkeeper and centre-backs play quickly.
When it changes hands
- When we win it, run in behind straight away: the defence is not set.
- When we lose it, press the player who won it, for a few seconds.
How tactics change your game
Your coach's tactic decides a lot of what you do. Here is the same position under different plans.
High press
Press their centre-backs and keeper. Curve your run so they can only pass one way, into our trap.
Low block
Drop to around halfway. Block the pass into their midfield and save energy for the counter.
Direct play
Be the target: win the long ball, or run in behind for it. Hold it up until help arrives.
Possession
Drop short to link play, then spin in behind when a midfielder gets it facing forward.
Try it yourself: change the tactic in the team builder and tap your position to see your job change.
Roles in this position
Coaches ask for different versions of the same position. Know which one you are playing.
Target striker
Holds the ball up and brings others into play.
With the ball. Show for the ball with your back to goal, hold off the defender, and lay it off.
Without. Block the pass into their midfield.
Runner in behind
Runs beyond the last defender.
With the ball. Stay on the shoulder of the last defender and run in behind as soon as a teammate can pass.
Without. Press their centre-backs.
False 9
Drops into midfield to drag a defender out.
With the ball. Drop into the space in front of the defence. If a centre-back follows, the space behind is free for runners.
Without. Press their holding midfielder.
Pressing forward
Leads the press from the front.
With the ball. Attack the box when the ball goes wide.
Without. Curve your run to press the ball and cut off one pass. Lead the press on the trigger.
Practise it in three steps
First the technique on your own, then the decisions in a small game, then the whole team's idea in the match.
Step 1 On your own
shooting · 15 min · Just you, or with a friend in goal
Strike the corners
Push the ball out of your feet and strike it low into a corner. Accuracy first, then power.
turning · 12 min · Just you
Turn and go
Dribble to a line, turn sharply, and accelerate away. Learn four turns: the inside hook, the outside hook, the drag back and the Cruyff.
ball mastery · 10 min · Just you
Keepy-uppy ladder
Climb a ladder of five stages, from one touch and a bounce to keeping it up with both feet and thighs. It builds the soft touch every other skill needs.
Step 2 In a small game
shooting · 12 min · You and a friend, plus a goalkeeper if you have one
First-time finishing
Your friend rolls the ball across in front of you and you finish without stopping it. Most goals in real games are scored with one or two touches.
shooting · 12 min · 4 to 12, plus a goalkeeper
1v1 with the goalkeeper
The attacker is through on goal with only the keeper to beat. Decide early: shoot, or take it round.
turning · 12 min · 4 to 10, plus a goalkeeper
Receive, turn and shoot
A striker receives with their back to goal, a defender behind. Turn and shoot, or lay it off and go again.
Step 3 In the match
- The counter-attackThe moment you win the ball, look forward. Attack quickly while the other team is still spread out.
- Press on a triggerWait, stay compact, and press all together when something tells you to: a pass to the touchline, a bad touch, a pass backwards.
- The overlapThe winger takes the ball inside; the full-back runs round the outside into the space the winger left.
Skills to masterStriking with the laces · Shielding the ball · drag-back · Cruyff turn
What would you do?
Two quick ones for your position. Pick an answer, then see why.
Your match moments
Full moments where your position has a job: see it in a match, make the choice, then practise it.
- Beat the pressStay high and pin their centre-backs, so their press is short of players.
- Get past their midfieldDrop to receive and drag a defender with you.
- We have just lost itBlock the pass back to their defence.
- We have just won itShow for the ball and lay it off wide first time.
- Make a chance from the wingNear-post run to take the centre-backs with you.
- Press togetherWait between their centre-backs and block the middle.
- Press their goal kickStand between the keeper and one centre-back.
- Take a quick throw-inPull your centre-back away, to make space for the runner.
- A free kick near their boxStart near the far post.
- Defend a free kickStand in the wall; do not turn your back.
- Take a cornerNear post: run across the front of your defender.
- Through on goalStay level with the last defender until the passer looks up.
- Go over themStand level with the last defender.
- The keeper starts the counterRun through the middle to pull a defender.
- Their keeper has itNever stop the keeper releasing the ball.
- Three against two on the breakStay wide of your defender.
- The second ballGet there first and side-on.
- Follow in the reboundShoot low and across the keeper, so a save comes out into the middle.
- One down, time running outNear post, across your defender.
- Our kick-offPass to a teammate facing forward.
- A penalty for usChoose a corner before you put the ball down.
- Our goal kickStay high, so their players have to watch you.
Take it into your next match
Look for
- Where is the last defender? Can I get on their shoulder?
- Is a teammate facing forward with the ball? Then run.
- Ball going wide? Near post first.
Your challenge. In your next match, every time the ball goes wide, make a run to the near post, even if the cross does not come.
In your head
Strikers miss chances. The ones who score next are the ones who still want the ball after a miss.
For younger players
Under-11s play without offside, so a young striker learns movement and timing, not just waiting by the goal.