4 Tips to Improve Your Soccer Shot

Aim is everything in a soccer shot. It doesn't matter if you hit the ball hard if it ends up sailing above the crossbar, wide of the goalposts or straight to the goalkeeper. As an example of exactly how to aim, U.S. women's team forward Heather O'Reilly, in a women's World Cup game against Colombia, picked up a loose ball. She glanced up, saw a narrow but clear channel passing to the left of teammates, opponents and the keeper, and lined up a right-footed shot to the far post, high in the net. Television replays in 360-degree vision recreated her view of the tiny sliver of an opening she had to work with. You can work on your aim to recreate this kind of success at whatever level you play.
Step 1
Draw a mental map at practice of the best part of the goal to aim for, recommends Deborah W. Crisfield in the book "Winning Soccer for Girls." Imagine a line two feet in from the goalposts and two feet down from the crossbar and shade in the area between the line and the goal; this is your target. Aim for the edges and away from the center of the goal -- guarded closely by the keeper, she writes.
Step 2
Target the lower corners of the goal, which is the top choice of seasoned shooters. While forwards often prefer the upper corners, aiming for the upper corners might be tougher to convert because the ball might sail outside of goal and then out of bounds. The lower corners require the goalkeeper to bend over or dive, Crisfield notes, and if the ball sails on you, it might rise during the shot yet still remain within the goal area.
Step 3
Weigh your options without committing too early during a shot opportunity during an actual game. Look up, gauge the position of the goalkeeper, factor in his earlier performance in terms of handling high or low shots and pick your spot for the shot.
Step 4
Stride up to the ball, plant your support leg to the side of the ball and look down. Swing your kicking foot through the midline of the ball, following through in the direction you want the ball to take. Repeat shots in practice, aiming for the edges of the goal, moving back two feet each time you succeed in hitting your target five times in a row.