Every striker has different attributes and contributes to the team in varied ways. One main skill they must have is an ability to score goals. If we look at the great strikers of the game, they all offer different and varied attributes as players. Rooney can play in the area between the strikers and midfield players, coming off defenders to link play. When he is in this area of the pitch, he has the awareness and technique to turn on the ball and provide defence splitting passes for fellow forwards, link up with forward running midfield players, both centrally and wide. Or turn and run at defenders, looking to commit players or create a space for a shot himself.

There are also out and out goal scoring machines, like Owen and Van Nisterlrooy, who mainly focus on clever, sharp movement in the final third, looking to get on the shoulders of defenders and get behind or across them with good, intelligent runs. There are also more physical players, like Shearer who will use his body and physical strength to get in front of defenders and hold the ball up, enabling him to bring other players into the game. This enables the attack to be launched from positive, attacking areas, with the ball being able to be played wide, where Shearer will look to attack the cross and use his great aggression and spring to attack crosses, particularly at the far post area. Then there are players like Henry, who has great pace and who looks to pull into the space between defenders, where he can receive the ball facing defenders to run at and commit them in a one v one situation.

Overall a good striker must possess the following key attributes:

• Strength and a good physical presence
• Intelligent movement, both inside and outside the penalty area
• Good finishing techniques
• The ability to hold the ball up and link play.
• Turning skills
• Pace
• Mental strength - they must believe in themselves
• Football intelligence
• Perseverance

As coaches we should be constantly striving to help our strikers develop and understand the full range of skills and techniques required for a striker. Using coaches chalkboard and with links to animated drills on the site, we have designed a number of drills and sessions to improve various techniques and skills required for a striker.

ANIMATED DRILLS TO IMPROVE STRIKER SKILLS

• Drill to improve a forwards link up play with midfield players
• Session to improve quick turning and shooting
• One v one in the area
• Improve a strikers shooting technique when facing the goal
• Develop shielding the ball technique
• Forwards runs for crosses

NAME

Drill to improve a strikers ability to receive the ball under pressure and link play to support players.

DESCRIPTION

There are four target players around the edge of the defined area. Use cones to make target gates of about 2 - 3 meters wide. The striker starts from a start point and comes off the defender to receive an angled pass from the coach. Ensure that the striker checks away from the ball, before coming off to meet the pass. Initially condition the defender to be passive and then increase the realism. Once the striker has received the ball, they must pass accurately through the gate, to the target player nominated by the coach. After lay off pass, striker should be encouraged to quickly check back to start point.

PURPOSE

To improve a strikers ability to receive the ball under pressure and link play accurately with target players. Once they have achieved this, they need to check quickly back to the start point to imitate the second movement they will need to get away from the defender and meet a cross or pass in the box.

ORGANISATION

• Area 20 x 20 meters
• 6 x players
• Balls, bibs, cones

KEY COACHING FACTORS

• Check away from the ball, before coming off defender to meet the pass
• Protect the ball - get body between defender and ball
• Try and receive the ball on the half turn
• Quality of first touch
• Awareness of targets
• Quality of pass to targets
• Quick turn and check back to start position.

PROGRESSION

• Coach to vary the type of service
• Striker conditioned to one or two touch
• Rotate players
• Introduce a second attacker and defender to encourage quick combination play

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