Shooting with a difference! Hitting the target with the Hip Height Shot

This week's session aims to help your players to shoot more, hit the target more and ultimately score more goals! Read on to learn more!

The key to shooting is the element of surprise - being able to not only beat the keeper but also get your shot past the opposition's defenders! To help your players improve their scoring percentage this session introduces your players to the Hip Height Shot - a key shooting variation that's great for getting your shot past the defender.

Perfect for players of all abilities, you can tailor this week's session to suit any team! With beginners you can slowly teach the technique and footwork required and with more advanced players you can work on disguising the shot - teaching them to feint a normal shot to get the defender's arms up (see image) and then exploiting that with a hip height shot!

Don't let your players become predictable - teach them this shooting variation and help them to find space for the shot, even when it's two defenders vs one attacker!

Advanced Attacking - Setting the screen to make space!

This week's Sportplan session uses a combination of fun games and passing-pattern exercises to teach your players how to use the screen to block opposition defenders and create space for the shot. Read on to learn more!

To help your players become screen-setting-superstars we get your players using both the front and the back screen. If your players have never used screens before then don't worry, you can start at half pace and slowly increase the tempo as your players become more confident.

The first part of this session introduces your players to blocking in a fun warm-up drill without a ball. After this we then start working in small groups, using match-like passing-patterns where players can learn how to implement the screen in a game situation.

By the end of this session your players will be far more aware of screens. In their next game they'll have the upper hand, not only knowing how and when to use them themselves but also being able to spot when their opponents might be trying to use them.

Bench Ball Matches - Improving team play in restricted areas

This week we've got a great games based session for your junior players (which older players will love too) teaching them the skills of the game through play. Read on to learn more!

Simple to set up and fun to play, this session splits your players into small 3v3 games to give them plenty of ball time and the chance to improve playing in tight areas.

The logic behind these mini-games is that they'll improve your players speedy decision making while getting players to shoot at a low target - improving their shooting into the bottom corners, adding a bit of variety to your players' shooting!

Make sure everyone's involved and having fun with this week's bench games session!