Shooting Warmup

Chris Johnson 99,521 Views Rating 3.57 (35 Reviews)

This shooting warm-up drill will focus on long-range passing, accuracy, and finishing. It can also be used as a fitness exercise by manipulating the numbers.

Soccer Drill Diagram: Shooting Warmup

Soccer Shooting and Finishing Warm up Soccer Drill

This soccer shooting drill is a great warm-up that focuses on long range passing, accuracy, finishing, and fitness drill.
Drill Setup

  1. Divide the team up into 3 equal teams.
  2. Place cones at the top of the 18 and in each corner of the 18.
  3. Each player begins with a ball, and they are responsible for that ball.
  4. Each group numbers themselves off from 1 to x players and must shoot in that order.
Drill Instructions

Exercise #1: Shoot the ball into the goal, and the ball must hit the back of the net in the air. It cannot bounce before it goes in the goal.
Exercise #2: Hit the crossbar

  1. Each exercise lasts for 4 minutes or the first to complete the activity 10 times.
  2. The players are responsible for keeping the same ball throughout this exercise and must shoot and retrieve their own ball.
  3. Players must shoot in the correct order as assigned. So, for example, if #1 shoots over the goal they must retrieve the ball and get back to the line as soon as possible because if 2 through 6 have already gone the group must wait until #1 gets back and go in order.
  4. The teams can shoot as fast as they want just as long as they are using their assigned ball in the correct order. After a shot, that player must quickly get their ball and get back to be ready for their next opportunity.
  5. After 4 minutes the team with the most executed exercises or 10 perfectly executed skills is awarded a win and teams rotate to a different cone/angle.
  6. The team with the most wins does not have to pay the penalty (push-ups, sit-ups, sprints, etc.).

Exercise #1: Shoot the ball into the goal, and the ball must hit the back of the net in the air. It cannot bounce before it goes in the goal.
Exercise #2: Hit the crossbar

Drill Variations

You can do this same exercise a number of different ways:

  • Volley out of hands
  • Half-volley out of hands
  • Juggle 2 times and volley
  • Get creative and have fun
  • Can be done with all ages
  • The is a good warm-up for the older age groups that have no problem hitting an 18-yard ball.
  • For younger players, you may want them to take a touch or move the cones closer.
  • You may have to warm-up up the younger age groups first because it takes little more for them to get the ball off the ground
Drill Coaching Points

  • Proper shooting  technique
  • Focus on aiming for a particular area of the goal
  • This is great to focus on leg strength for younger players.

Top Rated Soccer Drills


7v7 Scrimmage

Chris Johnson 160,902 Views Rating 4.4 (5 Reviews)
It's always good to finishing a soccer training session with a 7 vs. 7 scrimmage to focus on team play.

Sharks and Minnows

Chris Johnson 574,540 Views Rating 4.3 (166 Reviews)
The Sharks and Minnows dribbling drill focuses on using the body to protect the ball by placing their body in between the ball and the defender.

1v1 Diamond Shooting Drill

Chris Johnson 494,950 Views Rating 4.3 (10 Reviews)
Spice up your shooting combination drill by finishing with a 1v1 to goal. Add a fun little twist, and the kids love it.

Pirates of the Pugg

John Bychok 721,672 Views Rating 4.27 (384 Reviews)
This drill is an excellent drill for younger players ages 8-11 and focuses on dribbling technique in traffic which requires vision and awareness.

Alien Tag Soccer Game

Chris Johnson 343,366 Views Rating 4.27 (11 Reviews)
Alien tag is a great Under 4 soccer game for 3, 4, 5, and 6 year-olds. Your kids will like flying around and crashing in their spaceship.

4v4 Soccer to a Small Gate

Chris Johnson 250,130 Views Rating 4.24 (75 Reviews)
4v4 in soccer is the smallest game focusing on all aspects of a full sided soccer match.

The Flag Game - Dribbling in Tight Spaces

Chris Johnson 199,693 Views Rating 4.23 (48 Reviews)
The flat game soccer drill is designed to focus on young soccer players learning to dribble in tight spaces.

Four Corners Passing Game

Chris Johnson 803,367 Views Rating 4.2 (284 Reviews)
The Four Corners Soccer Passing Game is a great soccer passing drill to focus on changing the point of the attack, and timing of runs and passes.

1v1 Competition

Chris Johnson 342,199 Views Rating 4.2 (147 Reviews)
This drill is great to focus on 1v1 play. It is flexible and can be used to work on the offensive side or the defensive side.

Ouch!

Chris Johnson 692,134 Views Rating 4.18 (268 Reviews)
A FUN soccer drill for younger players (U6, U7, and U8) to introduce dribbling, looking up and correctly striking the ball at a target.