If your team is not generating enough goals, they most likely are not creating the opportunities or executing the situations.

To create more shooting opportunities and execute them successfully, the first thing to do is to analyze your stats and see why you aren’t getting those opportunities. Coaches should be asking the following questions:

Are we getting tons of ejections but not scoring? 

If you are weak in this category, make sure your athletes understand how to ‘lock the goalie’ when receiving a pass, moving and sliding without the ball. Have them watch the middle defender and find which side has the 3 on 2 advantage. Forcing them to cut and catch shoot during 6 on 5 training is a great way to teach them to be more aggressive. Making sure the wings bring the ball in longer to allow the posts to move more are all ways that will help open up more shots. 6 on 5 training with a punishment or when they are tired is also a great way to emulate a real game.

6 on 5 shooting 

Are we getting shots blocked? 

If your athletes aren’t scoring because they are getting their shots blocked, then teach them new ways to read a blocker. Familiarize them with different release points when shooting and force them to beat the blocker in a shooting drill. Movement without the ball is also a great way to beat the block. Pass, slide, catch and shoot. Most of the times when players have difficulty beating a block it’s because they never practice it or their shot is easy to read. The more diverse your shots can be (along with different fakes and always moving) the harder it will be to get blocked. Also, have athletes spend time reading the goalie and understanding why they chose to shoot a certain shot.

Suggested Drills:

Zone Shooting: 2-3-4 Shooting

Coach Rico’s Drills: Direction Slide

Coach Rico’s Drills: Direction Backhand

Shooting Series 6: Wraparound Shot

Impact Ball Training: Hungarian Drills

Impact Ball Training: Core Shot

Impact Ball Training: Three Way Release

Impact Ball Training: Learn to Fake

At home workout; Upper Body: Overhead Wall Wrist Pass

At Home workout; Upper Body; Snapping Wrist

At Home Workout; Upper Body: Wrap Around

Are we missing center shots or post shots?

If the issue is position- specific, then analyze the technique. Make sure your athletes’ legs are under them before they are shooting -whether it's on the post or in set. Teach the step out and have them repeat the shot over and over again while tired. It does no good only shooting when you are fresh because in a game there is pressure and you are tired. The more you can emulate this type of game situation while shooting the better.

Suggested Drills:

Coach Rico’s Drills: Posture Total

Coach Rico’s Drills: Slam

Coach Rico’s Drills: Step Out Heavy 1

Tony’s Turns: Backside Turn

Tony’s Turns: Front Side Turn

Center Position: Center Drill

Center Position: Center D & O Drill

At Home Workout; Upper Body: Sweep Wall Pass

At Home Workout: Backside Wall Wrist Pass

2M Offense & Defense with Peter Hudnut: Hungry Man

2M Offense & Defense with Peter Hudnut : Hungry Man on the Wall

Are you not getting shots off at all?

Oftentimes when players don’t shoot they will say: ‘they pressed me out’ or ‘I didn’t have the opportunity’, however, this is incorrect. The bottom line is that scorers find a way to score. Scorers put themselves in a situation to create a shot. Many times when players are too mechanical, they become easy to read and don’t know how to be more creative with their style of play. Below, are some drills to catalyze creativity: 

Create 1 on 1 drills in training where the players only job is to get a shot off. 

Suggested Drills:

Shooting Series 6: Catch & Shoot Both Ways

Shooting Series 6: Horizontal to Vertical

Zone Shooting: 6-8 Game

Zone Shooting: 6 Meter Foul Ball in Place