THE ART OF GOALSCORING
Dick Bate
WHAT DO GOALKEEPERS FEAR MOST?
1. Shots across their body.
2. Low, bending crosses up to 10 yds out.
3. High crosses to the back post.
4. Set pieces - especially near post corners, direct free-kicks, penalties.
5. Heavily disguised shots at goal.
6. Team-mates contacting the ball facing their own goal.
WHAT DO DEFENDERS FEAR MOST?
1. Giving possession away in the defending third.
2. Balls that are played behind them.
3. Quick crosses, played between them and the goalkeeper.
4. Opponents running at them with the ball.
5. Near post corners, direct free kicks.
6. Being “turned” - by 1/2’s, cut-back crosses, etc.
7. Unusual attempts at goal.
WHY DO ATTACKERS FAIL TO SCORE?
1. Do not accept the responsibility to score (they want to pass, etc.).
2. A lack of mental resilience (even if missing, keep shooting).
3. Not alert to opportunities to score (expect and take all opportunities).
4. Inappropriate choice of technique.
5. Poor execution of technique.
6. Poor timing of runs.
7. Fear of physical challenge.
8. Unrealistic ambitions (shooting from too far away).
9. Lack of speed over the ground and a lack of limb speed.
10. Slow in the mind.
SCORING NECESSITIES
1. Fluid movement onto the ball.
2. Appropriate body shape.
3. Balance.
4. Timing - foot/eye co-ordination.
5. Energy - powerful, strong standing leg.
6. Endurance.
7. Speed and Perception.
8. Quickness to adjust, readjust body and feet position.
THE LEARNING PROCESS
1. UNCONSCIOUSLY INCOMPETENT - don’t know what to do / can’t do.
2. CONSCIOUSLY INCOMPETENT - know what to do but incompetent.
3. CONSCIOUSLY COMPETENT - know and do.
4. UNCONSCIOUSLY COMPETENT - do it unthinkingly.
TACTICS OF GOALSCORING
6 WAYS OF SCORING
1. Cross and finish.
2. Move after the ball eg. run after it, dribble, set-up, etc.
3. Ball cut-back into path of runner to strike (to you, chase it, across you).
4. Set Plays.
5. 1/2 variations.
6. Rebounds.
PSYCHOLOGY OF SCORING
1. Effect of scoring - a team is vulnerable to concede goals after it has just
scored.
2. Before half-time - damaging effect on opponents.
3. Losing a lead - great pressure on a team that loses the lead.
4. Late goals - a team has no time to recover.
5. Opening goals - significant influence.
TOP GOAL SCORERS
1. Single-minded, alert, instinctive, courageous, etc.
2. Shots, crosses, set-pieces are the basis of goalscoring = TRAINING.
3. Goals for or against - a major influence on a team.
