Identify Your Shooters

There comes a time in a game when a penalty kick or a free kick is called in your favor. All the players turn to you as a coach and say: "coach can I take it?". You need to be prepared.
At practice, have each player take 5 penalty shots. Identify 2 or 3 kids who on the average do better than others. Some of them might not be present on that faithful day when the game depends on that last penalty kick. Always have backups.
Try the same with free kicks. Place the ball outside the penalty box. Ask other team members to make a big wall. Ask the players to stand behind the ball and shoot over the wall and into the goal. Again, identify which players looks more promising. You are going to find players whose shots don't even reach the wall. So don't be discouraged.
Now try the same thing with goal kicks. I have found out that goal kicks are crucial in games. If your team is unable to kick the ball out of danger area and into the opponent's half of the field, you are going to be in for a long day. You need to find out which one of your defenders can shoot the ball harder. Sometimes goalkeepers shoot pretty well too. But if you cannot find anyone, resort to your midfield line and identify players who can shoot. Ask them to always take goal kicks.