Instep Shooting Drill
Attackers Defenders Neutral Goalkeeper Pass Run Dribble Shot
This soccer shooting drill isolates the instep drive - the laces strike with toe down and ankle locked that powers most goals. U8-U14 pairs face each other across a 25×25 grid and score points by knocking over the tall cones in the middle, so every rep has a target and a reason to strike cleanly.
Find similar exercises in our shooting drills collection or filter by age with drills for U11 teams.
Setup
- Mark a 25×25 yard grid and stand 3-4 tall cones in the middle.
- Split the team into pairs, one ball per pair.
- Partners stand on opposite sides of the grid, facing each other across the cones.
How It Works
- Players drive the ball across the grid to their partner using the instep (laces).
- Knock over a middle cone with your strike to score a point.
- Any player on the receiving side can return the ball, also with an instep drive, hunting the cones on the way back.
- Play to a points target or on a timer; reset flattened cones between rounds.
Coaching Points
- Strike with the shoelaces, toe pointed down, ankle locked solid.
- Plant foot lands beside and slightly behind the ball, pointing at the target.
- Follow through and land on the kicking foot to transfer full body weight.
- Aim low and true - a skimming drive knocks cones over, a scooped ball floats past them.
Variations
- With younger players, run the same game using inside-of-the-foot passes.
- Increase the distance or shrink the cone cluster as accuracy improves.
- Play first pair to 10 knockdowns, winners stay against a new challenger pair.