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Note From David. This Newsletter is a continuation of “Ways Most Goals Are Scored”. A simple way to increase your chances of scoring is to increase your number of quality shots. It can be useful to think about how most goals are scored. By this I mean the build-up or actions that lead to goals. From the list below, you can think about which might work for your team. What your team can do depends upon the age and skill level of your players and the amount of time your entire team practices. If you have a typical Rec team with some skillful players, some unathletic players and limited practice time, it is unrealistic to expect your team to play like a select team that practices 4 hours per week. However, you can keep in mind that most goals are scored by getting players into scoring position and then passing, crossing, or centering the ball into the other team's Penalty Box. In any case, you can only win if your players hustle and win the ball. There are over 40 articles on Premium related to scoring. Have fun this week! David, SoccerHelp.

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Ways Most Soccer Goals Are Scored - Part 2
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Ways Most Soccer Goals Are Scored (from SoccerHelp Premium Scoring More Goals):

Obviously, for any goal to be scored there must be a shot from within scoring range. Thus, as discussed above, a simple way to increase your chances of scoring is to increase your number of quality shots. It can be useful to think about how most goals are scored. By this I mean the build-up or actions that lead to goals. From the list below, you can think about which might work for your team.

What your team can do depends upon the age and skill level of your players and the amount of time your entire team practices. If you have a typical recreational team with some skillful players, some unathletic players and limited practice time, it is unrealistic to expect your team to play like a select team that practices 4 hours per week. However, you can keep in mind that most goals are scored by getting players into scoring position and then passing, crossing, or centering the ball into the other team's Penalty Box. In any case, you can only win if your players hustle and win the ball. At Forward, an alert, quick player who will fight for the ball may be better than a faster, more skillful player.

Free Kicks and "Corner Kicks". "Free Kicks" and "Corner Kicks" are two types of "set plays" that result in scoring opportunities. Both create good rebound opportunities and free kicks (both direct and indirect) give the opportunity for direct shots on goal (although a player must touch the indirect kick first). (See "Free Kick" and "Corner Kick").

Long Shots. Long ground balls rarely score in Rec soccer, but long air balls can be effective, especially against a short or slow goalie, or if the ball is wet. The key to these long air balls is accuracy; chips usually score more than hard drives. Long shots can also result in rebound opportunities, either off the goalie or off the goal. A mistake many youth make is playing too close to the goal for rebounds with the result that the rebound bounces behind them. It is better to stay 5 or 6 steps from the goal.

Dribbling. A great dribbler can be very effective in scoring and in creating scoring opportunities by pulling multiple defenders toward him, which leaves teammates open. In the past two seasons my team has only lost one game and we lost that one because a great dribbler scored 4 goals. I coach a Rec team and don't like to assign a "shadow marker", but I should have in that game and will the next time we play against a dribbler of that skill. If you have a great dribbler on your team, a very effective tactic is to have him attack the goal, but have a Second Attacker trail him to be ready for a Back Pass and have another Second Attacker go to the goal front or The Far Post (ideally one to the Near Post and another to the Far Post). Teach the dribbler to look for an open teammate or to center the ball. (See "Combination Passing" above, "First Attacker", "Formations", "Creating Space", "Finish", and "When To Dribble").

Penalty Kicks ("PK's"). You will not get many chances to score on Penalty Kicks. However, there are 3 things to teach your teams:

First, tell your players to stay out of the Penalty Box until after your shot is taken. If they go inside the Box early, you lose the ball and the shot doesn't count.
Second, tell your shooter to keep the ball on the ground and to aim for one side of the goal. In Rec soccer, most missed penalty kicks are due to the shooter trying too hard and missing the goal. It is better to try to pass the ball into the goal then to try to kill it. A shot low to the corner is very difficult for the goalie to stop.
If you are defending a PK, I suggest having your goalie set up one step toward his left side (toward the shooter's right post). This will encourage the kicker to kick toward his left post. Have your goalie move to his right as soon as the shooter starts his run (once he starts he can't stop). The goalie will have a chance to block the shot and his movement might make the shooter pull his shot and shoot wide (This is especially true since most shooters are right footed and a shot toward the left post will have a natural curve). Also, tell your players to stay out of the Box until after the kick so the shooter doesn't get a second chance.

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DVDs I Recommend: (The links go to the Detailed Review of the DVD)

For U-4, U-6 Coaches: View Video Clips of The Coach Doug Soccerhelp Method of Coaching U-4, U-6 and U-8

For How To Teach Skills: Anson Dorrance & Tom Stone Soccer Clinic DVD, Soccer Success One On One Coaching (Basic and Intermediate Skills) DVD, Mia Hamm Soccer Secrets DVD and Gold Star Sleeve Ties, England Skills Uncovered DVD, Training Girls and Women To Win 3-DVD Set

For Motivation, Fun and Foot Skills (experienced and travel players age 9 and older): GOL! (Brazilian Soccer Foot Skills and Ball Control Training) DVD

For Rec Girls: Mia Hamm Soccer Secrets with Gold Star Sleeve Ties

For Moves: Watch Video Clips from SoccerHelp Foot Skills and Soccer Moves Training Program (Motor Memory Training and Aerobic Workout) DVD, Coerver Play Great Soccer 2-DVD Set, GOL! (Brazilian Soccer Foot Skills and Ball Control Training) DVD

For Travel Team Players: Watch Video Clips from SoccerHelp Foot Skills and Soccer Moves Training Program (Motor Memory Training and Aerobic Workout) DVD, GOL! (Brazilian Soccer Foot Skills and Ball Control Training) DVD, Coerver Play Great Soccer 2-DVD Set, England Skills Uncovered DVD, Training Girls and Women To Win 3-DVD Set.

For Serious Coaches, Tactics, Attacking and Defense: Anson Dorrance & Tom Stone Soccer Clinic DVD, 404 Great Goals DVD, Coaching Set Plays 2-DVD Set, Keeper! 2-DVD Set, Modern Defending 3-DVD Set (German Training Program), Systems of Play DVD, Zonal Defending DVD, Soccer Tactics - Defending and Attacking 4-DVD Set

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