How to Be a Good Forward in Soccer

To be a good forward in soccer, you must possess an intangible that can't be taught. But if you have that desire to score and create plays, a little hard work can get you playing at the level you want.The position of forward is not all about glorious goals. It's long runs, moving the ball in traffic and 90 minutes of defenders harassing you.Here's how to be a good striker.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Move forward when you have the opportunity. A good striker is always looking to attack the goal. Whether you have the ball or not, you should be testing the back line of the defense. See how far you can push their backs. Make your runs diagonal, curling, to the penalty spot and to the far post. The best thing a forward can do is make the defense have to change what it is doing to stop you. The best way to do that is to attack every chance you get.

2. Make your initial touch mean something. The first touch is very important to a forward. You'll be getting the ball on some long runs which means that many of the balls you receive will be coming very fast, in the air or they will not be that accurate. The better your touch is, the quicker you can turn toward goal and score.

3. Play with high energy. Forwards are constantly running, making long runs down the touchline, up the middle and to the posts. What people don't realize is that forwards don't often get the ball when they make runs. When your team is on attack, you can't stop running because you never know when the next opportunity will come. It is a thankless job at times, but when that ball hits the back of the net, it will all be worth it.

4. Shoot the ball whenever you get the opportunity. Have at it any time you have a good look at the goal. Many Americans will not shoot until they have a wide open loot at the goal, but the truth is you should shoot the ball any chance you have. Take advantage of every open shooting opportunity you have.