If you’re a young football striker, learning to improve your striker skills is essential for becoming a successful goal-scorer.
Learning and focusing on key areas such as finishing techniques, ball control, movement, and mental toughness, you can develop the skills needed to excel as a striker.
In this article, we will explore 5 ways to improve your striker skills as a young footballer.
We have provided practical tips and drills that you can incorporate into your training to enhance your performance on the field.
5 skills to improve as a young football striker
1. Master Finishing Techniques
Finishing is the most important skill for a striker. To improve your finishing, you need to practice a variety of shots, including volleys, headers, and free kicks.
Here are some tips for improving your finishing:
· Practice different types of shots:
Practice shooting from various angles, distances, and situations. This will help you develop a versatile finishing game.
· Focus on accuracy and power:
When practicing your shooting, aim to strike the ball with both accuracy and power.
A well-placed shot is often more valuable than a powerful shot that misses the target.
· Practice finishing under pressure:
Simulate game-like situations by practicing finishing under pressure. This could involve shooting with defenders closing in, or taking penalties in front of a crowd.
· Watch and learn:
Study the finishing techniques of professional strikers. Pay attention to their body position, foot placement, and follow-through. Try to emulate their movements and techniques in your own practice.
· Use a variety of targets:
Practice shooting at different targets, such as a small area of the goal or a moving target. This will help you develop your accuracy and hand-eye coordination.
2. Improve on Ball Control
Ball control is another essential skill for strikers. Being able to control the ball effectively will allow you to create scoring chances and beat defenders.
Here are some drills to improve your ball control:
· Juggling:
Juggle the ball with different parts of your body, including your feet, head, chest, and thighs.
Start with a small number of touches and gradually increase the difficulty as you improve. Juggling helps you develop coordination, balance, and touch.
· Close control:
Practice keeping the ball close to your feet and moving it quickly in different directions.
Use both feet to control the ball and avoid letting it bounce away. Close control drills help you improve your ball-handling skills and ability to beat defenders.
· Passing drills:
Practice passing the ball to yourself and other players. Focus on accuracy, precision, and different types of passes, such as short passes, long passes, and through balls.
Passing drills help you improve your ball distribution and ability to create scoring chances.
· Touch and turn:
Practice touching the ball with different parts of your foot and turning quickly to change direction.
This drill helps you improve your agility and ability to beat defenders.
· Shielding the ball:
Practice shielding the ball from defenders using your body. This will help you protect the ball and maintain possession.
3. Develop Movement and Positioning
Movement and positioning are crucial for strikers. By learning to move off the ball and find space, you can create scoring chances and make it difficult for defenders to mark you.
Some drills to improve your striker skills in movement and positioning:
· Off-the-ball runs:
Practice making runs off the ball to find space in the penalty area.
· Passing and moving:
Practice passing and moving to create space and combination play.
· Attacking patterns:
Learn and practice common attacking patterns, such as triangles and overlaps.
· Watch and learn:
Observe professional strikers and analyse their movement and positioning.
4. Improve Finishing Under Pressure
The ability to finish under pressure is essential for strikers. Being able to score goals in tight situations can make the difference between winning and losing a game.
Tips for improving your finishing under pressure:
· Practice finishing in game-like situations:
Create drills that simulate the pressure of a real game, such as shooting with defenders closing in or taking penalties in front of a crowd.
· Visualize success:
Visualize yourself scoring goals and celebrating. This can help boost your confidence and reduce anxiety.
· Stay calm:
When under pressure, it’s important to stay calm and focused. Take a deep breath and concentrate on your technique.
· Practice penalties:
Penalties are a common situation where strikers need to perform under pressure. Practice taking penalties regularly to improve your accuracy and confidence.
5. Build Mental Toughness
Mental toughness is essential for strikers. Being mentally strong will help you overcome setbacks, stay focused, and maintain your confidence.
Tips for building mental toughness:
· Set realistic goals:
Set achievable goals for yourself and celebrate your successes, no matter how small.
· Visualize success:
Visualize yourself scoring goals and celebrating. This can help boost your confidence and motivation.
· Learn from mistakes:
Use mistakes as learning opportunities and don’t let them get you down.
· Stay positive:
Maintain a positive attitude, even when things are tough.
· Seek support:
Talk to your coach, teammates, or friends if you are feeling down or struggling.
In Summary…
Learning to improve your striker skills requires dedication, hard work, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Focusing on techniques like ball control, finishing techniques, movement, and mental toughness can help you develop the skills needed to become a successful goal-scorer.
However, you must understand that practice makes perfect. The more you practice, the better you will become. So, get out there and start training!
Join HTT Academy Nigeria to receive expert coaching and training to help you improve your striker skills and reach your full potential.