Diagonal Soccer Shooting Drill

Attackers Defenders Neutral Goalkeeper Pass Run Dribble Shot

The Diagonal Soccer Shooting Drill is a high-energy soccer shooting drill for U11–U16 players that works perfectly as a pre-game or pre-shooting-session warm-up. The pattern is simple - diagonal pass, layoff, first-time strike - and the constant rotation keeps the reps and the energy flowing.

Find similar exercises in our shooting drills collection or filter by age with drills for U14 teams.

Setup

• Mark a 10×10 yard box of cones just beyond the edge of the 18-yard box, with a goalkeeper in goal.
• Split the team into two lines behind the two far cones, facing the goal.
• One player from each line steps forward to the near cone (closest to the 18) - these are the layoff players.

How It Works

1. Player 1, at the front of the left line, plays a diagonal pass to Player 4 on the near right cone.
2. Player 4 takes one touch to set the ball into space, and Player 1 runs onto it and strikes first time at goal.
3. Player 1 then takes over the layoff spot from Player 4; Player 4 retrieves the shot and joins the opposite line.
4. Player 2 from the right line now plays the diagonal to Player 3 on the near left cone, and the pattern mirrors.
5. Make sure players keep switching lines so they shoot with both feet.

Coaching Points

• Controlled, curved approach onto the moving ball - never a straight-line charge.
• Plant foot placed firmly beside the ball, pointing at the target.
• Strike through the ball with the head steady; accuracy before power.

Variations

• Have the layoff player pick the ball up and toss it for a volley or half-volley finish.