Shooting

When the kids start trickling in at the practices, the first thing they do is shoot the ball into the goal. Hey, adults do that too! It's fun to score, isn't it? Let them shoot all they want until they are tired of it.

Preparation:

Break them up into two groups. Have one goalkeeper at each goal (if there are two goals available) and have the players line up across and start shooting from closer distances but not too close. If you don't have a goalkeeper handy, stay in the goal yourself. They love to score against the coach.
It's important to have the goalkeeper call the name of the next shooter before he shoots. Kids like to all shoot at the same time and the goalkeeper might get hit in the face with a stray ball.

Exercises:

Note: Don't worry about accuracy of the shots for now! it will naturally come later.

1. Have them shoot with the inside of the foot. The proper way to shoot is to approach the ball from the sides (many kids approach in a straight line and shoot with the front of the shoe. That's a no no). The shooter must start about 3 or 4 steps behind the ball, run to the ball and place the "other" foot right next to the ball. While shooting the player should bend forward over the ball and hit the ball at the center or a little above. The ball should stay on the ground. If the "other" foot is behind the ball while shooting, the shooter is likely to tilt backwards and shoot up in the air with no aim.
Also make sure the shooting foot follows through for more power.
Some shooters like to open their arms while shooting and that' s perfectly fine, it gives them balance and protects them from defenders while shooting.
I usually demonstrate the proper way of shooting to the group(s) but do not bog them down with the exact proper technique. Just some guidance should be enough. Let them have fun.

2. Have everyone get closer to the goal and ask them to switch the shooting foot. This is what I call the "weak" foot. A good soccer player should not have a "weak" foot. At first it's going to be awkward but after about 10 shots, they start getting it and gradually they get stronger and more stable.
My players usually know what I mean when I call out: "Everyone start shooting with the weak foot now" and everytime they say: "nooooooooo". They don't like it too much! Just explain to them that later on, good coaches will look for those traits when drafting them into their teams.

Here is something that I found very inetersting: After shooting with the weak foot for a while, their strong foot is silently getting stronger!!! Maybe it's because they realize the value of their strong foot but mostly it's because when they shoot with the weak foot, they try and exert lots of force behind the ball just to allow the ball to reach the goalkeeper. Now that they go back to shooting with the strong foot, they will try to put the same amount of energy behind the ball and it goes alot further! wow! try it!

3. Shooting with the top of the foot (not the front): This time have the players use their strong foot and shoot the ball with the shoe lace area and follow through with the leg. This gives them much more distance and power. So you might want to pull them back a little to make them shoot a bit harder and with proper techniques.

The shooting practices should not take more than 1/2 hour a session.

Some side notes:
I read somewhere that in order to make the players use their weak foot, some coaches ask them to take off their strong foot shoes throughout the practice sessions!
It sounds like a good idea but I did not try this technique for two reasons:
a. The players might get injured because of someone (or themselves) stepping over the strong barefoot! ouch! I guess in some limited, non-contact exercise you could try this, maybe with older kids but not 8, 9 and 10 year olds.

b. With younger kids, getting the shoes back on is a hassle! It might waste too much of your practice time.