How to Be a Good Striker in Soccer
The Skills Goal-Scoring Forwards Must Possess
If a soccer player has an intense desire to score and create opportunities, striker will be the position for him.
However, playing forward is not all glory and goals. It's entails long runs, moving the ball, thinking quickly and being under constant pressure from defenders.
There is a set of unique skills - intangibles - that a striker must possess in order to be the best at his position.
Always Thinking Attack
A good forward needs to do just that - go forward. With or without the ball, coaches should encourage strikers to test the opposing team's back line. One way to do this is to very the type of runs a striker makes by making diagonal, curling, far post and penalty spot runs.
If a forward has made a defense change what it's doing in order to defend him, then he's done a good job.
One of the things that can really help a striker be in constant "attack mode" is a good first touch.
The first touch is essential to a goal-scorers game.
As a striker, a player will have the sometimes thankless job of trying to receive balls on long runs that are airborne, inaccurate or at a pace that's generally difficult to control.
The better your touch is, the quicker you can get the ball on net.
Conditioning and Fearless Shooting
Soccer players, especially goalkeepers will often joke that strikers and forwards are the laziest players on the field - only running when they have a chance to score.
The truth is, good strikers are constantly running.
They may be making a curling run to the post, a diagonal run up the middle, or even a 50-yard sprint down the touchline.
To make matters worse, a striker is also makes numerous runs throughout the course of the match where the ball wont even be played to him.
That comes with the territory of the position. A striker simply can not stop running because goals are so hard to come by, and a team can't afford to pass up potential shots.
Strikers may get frustrated with this aspect of the position at times, but when the ball is in the back of the net, it will be worth it.
Of course, no goals are scored unless shots are taken. Strikers should be encouraged to have a go any time they have an open look at the net. Many young American players do not shoot unless the goal is wide open but, scoring opportunities are so seldom, that a player should always try to create for himself and take a risk.
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