How to Play Striker in Soccer

In the wonderful world of soccer, the striker is the all-star player. Similar to a football wide receiver or a home-run hitter in baseball, strikers score points. This glamorous position in the limelight comes with plenty of praise and celebrity but also carries its fair share of pressure.

Instructions

1. Stay on the offensive end of the field. A striker always stays on offense, so once the whistle is blown, this player will stay on the half of the field furthest from his team's goalie.

2. Know your position in relation to the goal. A striker's main job is to score points, so she must always know how far she is from the goal and how easy the shot would be from where she is standing. Get to know various distances from the goal by doing random practice shots at hundreds of different angles.

3. Study the opposing team's goalkeeper. As a striker you are always trying to score a goal; therefore, studying the goalie for his weaknesses is a good way to increase the odds in your favor.

4. Be open and ready for a pass at all times. Strikers receive the soccer ball from midfielders (players in the middle of the field) and must be available to take a pass when their teammates approach with the ball.

5. Communicate with the other forwards on your team. Strikers usually play in the middle of the field on the far end of the offensive half, but in some soccer formations, there are two or three strikers, or forwards. If this is the case, yell back and forth with the other forwards to communicate when you are going to pass, kick and receive.

6. Practice your penalty kicks. The referee will occasionally call a penalty kick or free kick. Both are kicks toward the goal that are usually taken by the striker. Sometimes the goal is protected by many players during the kick, and sometimes it is just the striker versus the goalie. Spend time practicing your kicking strategies or "shots on goal."

Tips & Warnings

• It is a good idea to practice stopping the soccer ball, since strikers are often on the receiving end of a pass.