finishing like ruud van nistelrooy

Well, if you're still out there, dk, here are my thoughts:

1. First touch
It's the beginning and end of soccer. You should be able to control the ball with either foot, thigh, chest and even head (i.e. flick on to open space or to teammate).

Practice receiving ball and playing into space for yourself or, again, for on-rushing teammate. All really good strikers have the ability to control with first touch.

1a. First touch shooting
Here you have to be able to get the ball on frame. Watch how often RVN makes the keeper make a save (as well as other good strikers). I think TV does a disservice to young players because they show these cracking goals over and over--when so many goals will be scored by one player breaking down the defense on the wing and playing it into the middle for someone else to finish.

Work on getting the ball on net first time, then work on placing to corners. Obviously a player of van Nistlerooy's caliber does the latter with great consistency.

2. Off the ball runs
Another problem with watching a game on TV is that it is hard to see all of the action off the ball--which is hugely important for strikers. RVN doesn't "just happen" to end up meeting the ball. He puts himself in scoring position.

Also, off the ball runs can open up space for other players by pulling a defender out of position and creating space. Watch how often good strikers will make diagonal runs without the ball or running onto the ball. Arsenal's Theirry Henry is very good at this if you watch any of their games.

3. Good use of body
Good strikers learn to use their bodies to create separation from defenders. Sometimes it is just speed as when they are running onto a ball or running at a defender; but you also need to learn to use your body to establish space.

Watch how RVN uses his arms, shoulder and legs to get a better position on the defender. As you're running to the near post, for example, learn to use your arm to create a little more space (assuming your not beating him on pure speed). One way to think of it is like walking through a crowd--except a lot faster.

3a. Use of body/talents
It's a given that you should work on developing the areas that are weak in your game. At the same time, identify the talent/abilities that you have that will set you apart from every other striker.

Maybe it's speed. Work on combining your speed with ball control (running onto the ball, touch, shoot and/or running at a defender with ball at your feet). Maybe you have good height. Maybe you have a low center of gravity, which you can develop into a hard cut and shot.

If I can go back to an example that I'm more familiar with, Henry has blazing speed that he has combined with very good touch/dribbling skills. Contrast that with a striker like AC Milan's Andrei Shevchenko, who is devastating in the air.

Obviously the top tier of strikers can pretty much do it all, but they also have a physical gift that sets them apart from the crowd.

4. Making the most of scoring opportunities
Watch how often a good striker will score a goal that will make you say, "I could have done that."

One thing that sets your decent strikers apart from your very good to excellent strikers is that they score those goals that they should score.

Part of the scoring is just sheer repitition, but part of it is the ability to perform under pressure, part of it is that uncanny ability to read the game and part of it is just doing it.

It seems axiomatic to say, "Good strikers score," but there are lots of guys who are fast, have good touch, make good runs and put themselves in position to score, but who don't score consistently.

I had a coach once who used to say, "Strikers are born not made." I would probably say both. The point is that I think that work can take you a long way, but there are just some people who have that special thing that sets them apart.

Hopefully you have it.

jw

 

Well it's hard to answer without knowing a little about you...like how old you are and what level you are at.

But to build on what JohnW said, I think that some of the crucial things to work on are...

First Touch - absolutely critical. Consider the rule that around the box every touch will bring another defender to you. Too many players use their 1st touch to stop the ball - in front of them - then use a 2nd or 3rd to put the ball in position for a play. Look at Landon Donovan, many times he'll play a pass on a first touch, but even when he keeps possession, his first touch always sets up a 2nd, either a pass, shot, or dribbling move.

Turning with the ball - for my money, RVN is the best at turning with the ball and getting off a shot IMMEDIATELY. And he does it under pressure. Work on all different types of turns, with both feet, not just your favorite and try to get someone defending you.

Play, play, play - a key to being a successful scorer is to be able to get a shot off and get it on frame. There are a lot of things you'll want to do that will only be approachable by playing a lot. No coach is ever going to send you to the side and say "work on toe-pokes for 20 minutes", but it will get you a lot of goals in unsettled situations in the box - just getting your foot in first and a touch on the ball.

Also, a key in getting enough space to get off a shot can be unpredictability. Can you make moves to lose a defender or at least have a defender thinking, "okay, I've seen this guy turn with the ball right, left, cut back, fake a cutback, dummy the ball...I better take a half step back so he doesnt' burn me." All these things take enough practice so you feel comfortable doing them at game speed and the recognition of what works in certain situations...like "last time I tried to cut back from right to left on this angle when the field was wet I ended up on my butt, maybe I'll try a spin move..."

Mental and physical, that can be REALLY in-depth and is very specific to you. You will have limitations on what you're capable of physically. The easy answer is get stronger, faster, and in better condition.

Physical limits can be worked on but is harder to control than technique...if you've mastered technique you are ensuring that your limitations are more
1) what you are physically capable of, and
2) what you can conceive of doing

Mentally, a big part is confidence. Knowing that you can make the ball do what you want. Another thing is to expand your mind about what is possible on the field. Watch players from all over, look at how they do things. What moves can you incorporate into your game.

 

The two previous posters said most everything. I'd like to emphasize that strikers need lots of time in front of the net. Confidence and assertiveness are two things I always look for in a striker, and that gets better with experience.

 

Make sure any drills you do are realistic too. Meaning make it as much like a game situation as possible. Breakaways are where a lot of goals are scored but when working on them make sure that you have a defender on their back so that they don't get into the bad habit of slowing down when they get close to the keeper. This is a bad habit a lot of players (esspecially youth players) have.

 

Wow, some really good ideas. I hope the trolls don't find this thread to inject their negativity.

Back to the topic at hand...I think one thing that is worth mentioning is shot selection. You've seen it...the forwards gains separation from the back by a killer move only to blast the ball at the keeper or to the wrong post. The problem is a lack of composure and wisdom. As a coach, I need to try to fill the wisdom gap and create drills that build composure.

On the wisdom gap front, I think there are some basics that need to be taught from young travel players on up.

1. Far-post first, Near-post next (meaning: the far post is USUALLY on the one open, but not always. Sometimes the goalie and first defender leave the near post uncovered--most typically if the pressure is late.

2. Shoot with foot that matches the post you are attempting to hit (meaning: shoot at the right post with the right foot and at the left post with the left foot. Most players can bend a ball with the inside of the foot--those who can bend it with the outside of the foot can do the converse. The ability to do this automatically is key.)

3. Divide the goal 8'X24' into zones of probability (meaning: create a goal sized rebound wall that is marked with higher values for places on the goal face where a goal is MOST likely to be scored-- upper 90's 6 points, lower 90's 5 points, one yard from the post bt the upper and lower 90's 4 points, two-yards in from the 4 point spot would be 3 points, one foot from the top and the bottom in the middle of goal would be 2 points. Any remaining space is worth 1 point. Have players shoot on this goal in practice or in off hours. They can play HORSE or keep score against one another.)

4. That balls does crazy things in front of the goal...(meaning: get used to crazy bumps and rebounds...put cones in the penalty box so when a ball hits it and rebounds, the striker will have to readjust to finish the ball.)

5. Hold that run just a little longer (meaning: forwards and mids usually get in before the ball is played in. Look at corner kicks--how many times to you see a scrum in the goal mouth with no forward motion by the forwards or mids on a corner kick, cross or FK? The attackers should hold their runs so they get to ball with momentum, not while they are standing there.)

6. A quick well-placed shot can be more effective (meaning: the shot heard round the world usually takes so long to wind up that it is actually the tackle heard round the world.)

 

I've never really saw the point of telling a striker to take shot after shot after shot from set positions or to aim for positions in the goal quite simply because it's never that easy and they more than likely have hit more shots over their years than passes quite simply it's what everyone enjoys the most. Unless they are striking the ball wrong work on it but otherwise don't give it great emphasis over anything else, that could damage your overall game.

First touch-people think it's there to simply get the ball to stop at your feet or continue your movement and let you focus on using the ball but I think it should be used more often to move into space, watch Paul Scholes he's the master at this. A second touch away from your feet could be too late. When it comes to you know where you wanna go and put the ball in that direction.
There is only one key element to being a top class finisher-Ultimate Composure. You have to be the one player that when the ball falls your way you don't panic and snatch at chances which is the main problem for struggling strikers. Once you don't panic everything falls into place, you are more able to take in your surroundings, know where the space is and how much you've got, assert the keepers position and above all your concentration level will remain focused enough allowing you to undertake the necessary touch and apply the finish.

We've all watched games and roared at a striker how "you could do better than that" and chances are being in less of a pressure situation you would. For example-Having a casual kick about in the park you are bearing down on goal with only the keeper to beat, you are more likely gonna wanna finish with class, get cocky and maybe try to take it around the keeper, chip it over him or simply slot it away with ease but bring on a bigger stage in serious competition the composure disappears and often results in hitting straight at the keeper, messing up due to indecision or just blasting it and hoping for the best.

It has been proven that when pressure or stress is applied to a situation our actions can become slurred thus is the reason why a professional footballer becomes unable to slot home a penalty into the corner of the net from 12 yards, a feat he would do easily in training.

And the only way of becoming cool under pressure-practise. Get your striker to go through the process in slow motion and try to know exactly what they're plan of action is when they get the ball, it's very rare a top striker changes their mind.

 

Two things we have done with our U12 team recently that have helped:

- When doing scrimmages/drills for the actual shot, we take a 6v6 net, turn it around backwards and put it on the goal line. Forces shots towards the corners.

- work on first touches out to the side, not just a trap, the puts the ball in a shooting position immediately. Of course a 1 touch shot is better, but when not an option, a first touch out to your strong foot, or away from the defender, then a quick shot, works well.

 

if you want to help a young striker, have them work on turning with the ball, with a defender right on them. you can work on this in practice, and it's good for the Striker and the Defender. and if you set up the drill right, it will work 1st touch, speed, turning, Shooting, everything they need. except for things having to do with crosses and one time shots, but those are other drills.