Goal Scoring Techniques

Here are my notes from a recent seminar to improve runs into the area.

* Goal Scoring Techniques
Chris Petrucelli, Univ. of Notre Dame Women’s Coach 3/29/96

* Purpose:
To develop players who can score goals under the pressure of game conditions.

* Setup:

Cones are placed parallel with the touchline about 18 yards from the goal post. At about 12 yards out, the cones are angled to about 8 yards from the goalpost. (this setup can be on both sides or just one side of the goal.) This is the channel the wing player is to run. Initially, there are players near each corner of the 18. At one corner there is a wing (with ball) and a trailing defender. The player at the other corner will make the near post run. An extra player can be added to support the attack from the corner of the opposite 18. This player must ensure that no missed or long crosses gets by him.

* Session:

o 1. Player on wing dribbles to end line (turning towards the near post along the channel). The wing should take the dribble to goal (along the goalline) if the defender allows it. The other attacker makes a hard near post run, to about 2-3 yards off the goalline, just inside the near post. The cross should be delivered knee high or below, usually with pace.

o 2. Add a far post run, preferably from the center about 25 yards out. The run must be wide and initially away from ball. This player should get wide of the far post be at least 12 yards off the goalline. It is critical that he not get to close to the goalline. Add a defender to pick up the near post run. We want the wing to recognize the near post is not available and cross the ball to the far post man. The near post run should continue on through.

o 3. Add a third attacker who runs to about the 12 yard area (penalty mark). The wing is play a back angle to this spot, normally this is a low ball. A defender is added to pick up the far post run.

o 4. Allow the two defenders to pick up whomever they want. The wing has to decide which is the proper pass.

o 5. Concluding Activity:

Set up the same channel of cones on both wings angling towards two goals about 40 yards apart (see below). Put a wing player in each flank area and play 3v3+1 neutral offensive player. The ball must be played to the flank on each possession then put back into the seam for a scoring opportunity.

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* K *
* *
* *
* *
* 3 v 3 *
W W
* + 1 *
* *
* *
* *
* K *
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