Every attack ends with a decision and a strike. Shooting and finishing are the skills that turn good soccer into goals, and they are some of the most fun skills for young players to practice. This guide collects our best posts on striking the ball, finishing in the box, free kicks and penalty kicks, along with lessons from some of the game’s great goal scorers.
Good finishing is about more than power. Players need clean technique, a calm mind, quick feet to set up the shot and the awareness to pick the right target. For coaches, these posts offer clear examples to share with your team and fresh ideas for sessions. For players, they show what is possible when technique is practiced over and over until it holds up in a game.
Start with the “Start here” list to build a strong foundation. Then explore the sections that match your needs, whether that is set pieces, penalties or learning from the pros. Finish by using the weekly practice routine to turn what you read into goals on the field.
Start here
- Near and Far Post Finishing in Soccer: learn how to choose the right side of the goal when you get a chance.
- How to Knuckle the Soccer Ball When Shooting: understand the striking technique that makes the ball dip and swerve.
- Soccer Volleys: How to Volley Like a Pro: learn the body shape and timing for striking the ball out of the air.
- Diego Forlan Long-Range Shooting Technique: see how a great long-range shooter strikes the ball cleanly.
- PKs in Soccer: What They Are and How the Pros Shoot Them: a clear introduction to penalty kicks and how professionals approach them.
Shooting Technique and Finishing Ideas
These posts focus on how to strike the ball and the clever ideas that help you score in different situations.
- Steven Gerrard Shooting in Slow Motion: study a powerful striking technique frame by frame.
- Lionel Messi’s Best Chip Shots: see how a delicate chip can beat a goalkeeper who comes off the line.
- Learn How to Do the Henry Fake Shot or Pass: use a fake shot to send defenders the wrong way.
- Learn Zidane Fake Shot/Pass: add another fake to create time and space in front of goal.
- Mesut Ozil Bounce Shot: see a creative finish that catches a goalkeeper by surprise.
- Bad Angled Shots in Soccer: think about when to shoot from a tight angle and when to look for a better option.
Free Kicks and Set Pieces
Set pieces are a great chance to score, and a player who can strike a dead ball well is valuable to any team.
- Ronaldinho Free Kick Under the Wall: How He Did It: see how Ronaldinho caught a wall off guard.
- How to Take a Free Kick Like Cristiano Ronaldo: learn the approach and strike behind Ronaldo’s free kicks.
- Juan Riquelme Teaches You How to Take a Free Kick: a free kick lesson from a master of the dead ball.
- Shunsuke Nakamura: Guide to Free Kicks: pick up tips from one of the great free kick specialists.
- Soccer Free Kick Ideas From the Experts: gather ideas for scoring from free kicks at every level.
- How to Score Directly From a Corner Kick: learn how to bend a corner kick toward goal.
Penalty Kicks
Penalties test technique and nerve. These posts look at different ways players approach the spot.
- Taking a Penalty Like Messi: see how Messi approaches a penalty kick.
- Paradinha Penalty: What It Means and Is It Legal?: understand the stutter-step penalty and what the rules say about it.
- Sebastian Abreu’s Panenka Penalty vs Ghana (2010): relive a famous chipped penalty under huge pressure.
- The Penalty Kick: 12 Yards Between Glory and Despair: explore the mental side of taking a penalty.
- Penalty Kicks: Which Order: think through how coaches decide who shoots first in a shootout.
Learn From the Finishers and Shooting Drills
Watch how top finishers move and strike, then use proven drills to build the same habits.
- Kylian Mbappe: Pure Speed and Clinical Finishing: see how Mbappe combines pace with composure in front of goal.
- How to Play Like Chicharito: Movement and Finishing: learn how smart movement creates easy finishes.
- Alex Morgan Shooting Drills: try shooting drills inspired by one of the best American strikers.
- Quick Fire Soccer Shooting Drill: a fast-paced drill that gives players lots of shots in a short time.
- Continuous 3 v 2 Shooting Drill: practice finishing in a game-like attacking situation.
How to practice
- Warm up with two-touch passing against a wall, focusing on a locked ankle and clean contact.
- Take 20 shots from the edge of the box with each foot, aiming for the corners rather than power.
- Practice finishing after a move: dribble at a cone, use a fake or cut, then shoot quickly.
- Strike 10 volleys and half-volleys from a partner’s toss, keeping your body over the ball.
- End with five penalties and a small-sided game where goals only count from one or two touches.
The Coerver approach
Coerver Coaching treats finishing as the final step of a strong technical foundation. Players first build ball mastery and clean striking technique with both feet through steady repetition. They then learn to create a shooting chance with moves and fakes, and practice finishing quickly after a change of direction. Finally, they apply these skills in 1v1 and small-group games where pressure, time and space feel like a real match. The result is a player who can create a chance and finish it with confidence.
FAQ
How can I shoot a soccer ball harder?
Strike through the center of the ball with your laces, lock your ankle and land on your shooting foot. Good technique and a balanced approach add more power than simply swinging harder.
Where should I aim when shooting?
Low shots to the corners are hardest for goalkeepers to save. Pick your target before you shoot and focus on accuracy first, then add power.
How do I stay calm when taking a penalty kick?
Decide where you will shoot before you start your run, keep the same routine every time and practice penalties regularly so the kick feels familiar under pressure.