How to Build Soccer Confidence: A Striker's Guide to Scoring More Goals
- Dr Paul McCarthy
- 6 hours ago
- 10 min read
You might be surprised to learn that strikers typically get just two chances to score in a soccer match [−1].
The stakes couldn't be higher. Your teammates count on you to put at least one of those chances away [−1]. A striker's confidence isn't optional - you need it to consistently score goals. Missing that perfect setup touch means no shot and no goal [−1].
Practice is the only way to build real confidence [−4]. Our experience shows that soccer confidence grows from a mix of technical ability and mental toughness. Your skill level directly shapes your confidence [−4]. The ball becomes part of you with more practice time. This helps you stay cool under pressure, especially when you need to dribble past the keeper in those tight spots where seconds count [−2].
That's exactly why we've put together this detailed guide to boost your soccer confidence with tested drills and methods. We'll walk you through everything from the perfect first touch to reading defensive lines [−3]. You'll learn to become that reliable finisher who keeps their nerve in crucial moments.
Mastering the Basics: Technical Skills for Confidence
Soccer strikers build their confidence through technical excellence. Players who master fundamental skills show better performance under pressure. Let's look at everything in technical elements that boost your confidence when facing the goal.
First touch and ball control
Your first touch can make or break a scoring chance. Clinical finishing combines technique, timing, and smart decisions [1]. A striker's touch becomes crucial, especially when you have tight situations where odds stack against you [2].
Here's how you can develop an exceptional first touch:
Wall drills: Pass the ball against a wall and focus on controlling it with different parts of your foot. This helps you learn about cushioning the ball softly while keeping it close [3].
Juggling with movement: Set up six cones 5 meters apart in a straight line and juggle the ball while moving alongside them. Start by mastering 30 meters, then work up to 60 meters as you increase your speed to a jog [2].
"Soft foot" technique: You can receive high balls by relaxing your ankle completely. Make your foot limp to deaden the ball's momentum so it stops right at your feet [2].
It also helps to work on moving the ball away from pressure into space with your first touch. A positive first touch lets you face forward and plan your next move [4]. Note that reliable strikers keep the ball under pressure, connect with teammates, and end up scoring goals [1].
Shooting with both feet
Are you stronger with one foot? Players who use both feet well become harder to predict and by a lot more dangerous in the box [5]. Top soccer players can use both feet but usually show slight dominance with one foot [5].
Perfect your technique on your stronger foot first, then apply those skills to your weaker foot [5]. Here's how to improve your weaker foot:
Start with walking and ball control drills, touching the ball every step with just your weaker foot
Move up to jogging pace as you feel more comfortable
Practice wall passes while keeping your ankle locked for solid contact
Use different shooting techniques with both feet—inside foot for accuracy, laces for powerful long shots [6]
You should set aside specific practice time to shoot with both feet. Place targets in the goal's bottom corners and practice from different spots and angles. Keep score to see your improvement [2].
Practicing under pressure
Elite strikers spend countless hours on finishing drills from various angles and distances. They work both feet and train under match-like pressure [1]. These moments demand quick decisions that determine success.
Here's how to create game-like pressure:
Set up 1v1 situations where defenders challenge your weaker foot dribbling [5]. This forces quick thinking while maintaining ball control.
You should also practice receiving passes with a teammate pressing you [4]. This helps you take your first touch away from pressure into open space.
Most importantly, keep proper form despite pressure. Players need to stay active—movement off the ball helps develop good touch [2]. The best strikers constantly scan the field, spot spaces, and time their runs perfectly [1].
Reading the Game: Awareness and Positioning
Positional awareness sets great strikers apart from good ones. Your scoring chances stay limited without the ability to read the game well, regardless of technical skills. Let me show you how strategic positioning builds your soccer confidence.
Understanding goalkeeper positioning
Smart strikers review the goalkeeper's position before every shot. I recommend watching these significant elements:
The penalty spot serves as a reference point for the goal's center, so check it often to stay properly arranged [7]
Watch the goalkeeper's starting stance—check if they stand correctly between posts or slightly off-center
Look for goalkeepers who drift too far from their line, opening up chip shots or far-post finishes
Track their side-to-side movement patterns during crosses
Note that goalkeepers follow one basic rule: they picture a straight line from the ball, through their body, to the goal line's center [8]. This positioning principle helps you spot angles they leave open. Your instinct to find goalkeeper weaknesses grows stronger before taking shots.
Finding space in the box
The concept of "between the lines" positioning has changed how modern strikers play [9]. Here's how to find valuable space in the penalty area:
Your field scanning should never stop, even while standing still—this reveals defensive gaps before others notice them.
Curved runs work better than straight ones to stay in defenders' blind spots [9]. This movement style makes marking difficult and creates defensive confusion.
Sometimes creating space for teammates proves more valuable than taking it yourself [9]. This unselfish approach needs tactical maturity but gives your team better scoring opportunities.
Timing your runs
The best strikers know multiple runs before getting the ball make a vital difference [10]. Mix up your approach instead of single movements:
Top strikers switch between asking for the ball at feet and looking for passes into space [10]. These changes keep you unpredictable and defenders struggle to adjust.
The core striker mindset involves playing mind games with opposition center-backs [10]. A mix of relaxed scanning and explosive bursts works best—defenders track you easily if you move quickly all the time [10]. Try lulling defenders into complacency by changing your pace before bursting into space.
Your running persistence matters most. Great strikers probe throughout matches to create just one quality chance [10]. This determination often decides who wins tight games.
Choosing the Right Shot at the Right Time
The split-second decisions about shot selection often separate good strikers from great ones. Professional soccer players make an astonishing ~2,460 decisions per match—56% more than academy players [11]. Your ability to choose the right shot becomes vital when you face the goal with just milliseconds to decide.
When to use power vs placement
Your position relative to the goal determines whether to opt for power or placement shots. The distance guides your approach:
Long-distance shots need power using your laces to maximize velocity
Close-range opportunities work better with placement using the inside of your foot
Penalty situations benefit from placement, with research showing placement penalties reach wider in the goal (128±48 cm) compared to power penalties (73±62 cm) [1]
Research shows that players took placement penalties 80% of the time, while power penalties made up just 20% [1]. This makes sense since placement penalties help you target the corners—spots where goalkeepers struggle to reach quickly.
In spite of that, you face a significant trade-off: shots lose accuracy as power increases. This speed-accuracy relationship (known as Fitts' law) shows why you should adapt your shot selection to each situation [1].
Using the inside vs laces
Your choice of foot position shapes how your shot turns out:
Instep (laces) shots pack maximum power, making them perfect for long-range attempts or when you need to fire the ball past the goalkeeper [6]. You strike the ball with the top of your foot where shoelaces sit, which creates a line-drive effect with minimal curve [6].
Inside-foot shots give you better accuracy thanks to the larger surface area hitting the ball [6]. While these shots might not be as fast, they offer precision—exactly what you need for finesse finishes near the goal [6]. Many coaches tell their players to "pass it into the corners" with this technique [12].
Quick decision-making in tight spaces
Professional players think faster than academy players. They take just 7.08 seconds per offensive decision with the ball, while academy players need 10.51 seconds [11]. This 30-40% speed advantage becomes clear in tight spaces.
You can boost your decision-making speed:
Yes, it is possible to improve decision-making through systematic practice [11]. Keep scanning the field, even while standing still. This helps you process information before getting the ball. Your shot selection should factor in the goalkeeper's stance, goal distance, defensive pressure, and your technical strengths.
Becoming skilled at these situational shooting decisions will boost your soccer confidence as you score more goals.
Building Mental Strength and Composure
Mental strength determines a striker's performance. A newer study published by [3] showed players from higher division teams had more mental toughness than their lower-ranking counterparts. Learning the psychological aspects of finishing is just as vital as mastering your technique.
Staying calm under pressure
Your ability to control focus helps you stay composed. Top performers lock onto the action instead of getting lost in their thoughts. Strikers who concentrate on their present actions stay relaxed and perform with confidence [14]. Their performance suffers when they worry about outcomes, opponent quality, or past mistakes.
These practical approaches work well:
Breathing techniques help control anxiety during critical moments [15]
Mindfulness training helps you find your "flow state" where distractions fade away [3]
Pre-game jitters signal your central nervous system preparing for action - not something to fight against [3]
Overcoming fear of missing
Reality hits elite strikers hard—they miss three times more than they score [16]. Premier League's best forwards score only 25% of their shots [16]. Yet their steadfast dedication keeps them believing their next shot will find the net.
Missing shots becomes easier if you:
Start by accepting mistakes as part of the game. Even Messi and Ronaldo miss often [5]. Next, develop what coaches call "selective amnesia" or a "goldfish memory"—you forget misses right away [17]. Last, save error analysis for after the game since it distracts you from the next play [5].
Developing a striker's mindset
Fixed and growth mindsets create a fundamental difference. A fixed mindset says, "I will never be as good as them," while a growth mindset responds, "That's where I'm going" [3].
Visualization emerges as a powerful mental tool. Elite finishers practice daily pre-game visualization and see themselves scoring in different scenarios [17]. This mental rehearsal primes your brain—neuroscience reveals that visualizing an action triggers similar neural pathways as physical performance [16].
Top strikers also create specific reset phrases after setbacks. They replace generic thoughts with targeted affirmations like "My coordination is steadily improving" or "I am becoming a fantastic dribbler" [16]. These precise statements build confidence better than vague encouragement.
Soccer Confidence Drills to Practice Daily
Practice makes you confident on the pitch. So, the drills you pick can revolutionize your goalscoring ability. Here are daily exercises that boost striker confidence.
1v1 finishing drills
One-on-one finishing drills recreate crucial game moments where attackers face the goalkeeper [18]. Players learn to stay composed and make smart decisions during scoring chances through these exercises. You should start 25 yards from goal with a defender between you and the net. Then practice dribbling toward goal to create shooting space [19].
Pressure shooting drills
Players need quick thinking and perfect technique to shoot under pressure. "Shooting Under Pressure" drills work with one server and attacker on each side of goal, plus a nearby defender [20]. The defender challenges your shot right after you get the ball. Your first touch should keep you moving toward goal. Strike with laces, low and toward corners [20].
Visualization and mental rehearsal
Mental preparation through visualization builds confidence [18]. You should use all five senses during practice. See the pitch, hear the crowd, feel the ball's contact to make it real [4]. Research shows that imagining specific moves triggers the same neural pathways as actual performance [21].
Tracking progress and setting goals
Goals drive motivation and create achievement [18]. Your confidence grows when you track weekly success rates and see improvement [19]. Target specific goals like completing 80% of passes or winning half of your aerial duels [22].
Conclusion
Soccer strikers need dedication to both technical and mental aspects to build their confidence. This piece explores how becoming skilled at fundamental skills leads to greater confidence on the field. Your first touch, knowing how to use both feet, and decision-making under pressure all contribute substantially to your performance in critical scoring moments.
Practice and confidence go hand in hand. Confidence isn't mysterious or magical—it comes directly from knowing you've really prepared for every possible situation. You create more scoring opportunities by dedicating time to understand goalkeeper positioning, find space in the box, and time your runs perfectly.
Elite strikers miss more often than they score. Mental resilience matters just as much as technical abilities. A striker's mindset requires staying calm under pressure. You must quickly forget misses and visualize success before it happens.
Regular practice of these drills helps track your progress. Soccer confidence grows steadily through consistent work rather than sudden changes. These techniques will help you make better decisions faster. You'll stay composed in front of goal and ended up finding the back of the net more often.
Take a deep breath and trust your preparation next time you step onto the pitch. Your technical mastery combined with tactical awareness and mental strength will make you the clinical finisher your team needs.
Key Takeaways
Master these essential elements to transform from a hesitant striker into a confident goal scorer who thrives under pressure.
• Master technical fundamentals first - Perfect your first touch, develop both-foot shooting ability, and practice under game-like pressure to build unshakeable confidence in front of goal.
• Read the game like a chess master - Study goalkeeper positioning, find space between defensive lines, and time your runs to create more scoring opportunities.
• Choose shots strategically, not instinctively - Use power for long-distance attempts and placement for close-range finishes, making split-second decisions based on situation rather than habit.
• Develop mental resilience through acceptance - Elite strikers miss 75% of their shots yet maintain confidence by forgetting mistakes instantly and visualizing success daily.
• Practice specific confidence-building drills daily - Focus on 1v1 finishing, pressure shooting scenarios, and mental rehearsal while tracking your progress to see measurable improvement.
Remember: confidence isn't magical—it comes directly from thorough preparation. When you've mastered these technical skills and mental strategies, you'll naturally perform better when those crucial scoring moments arrive during matches.
References
[1] - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4269429/[2] - https://www.goldenbootstrikers.com.au/blog/how-to-become-a-better-football-striker[3] - https://www.veo.co/article/how-to-build-mental-toughness-in-football[4] - https://idavalencia.com/visualization-techniques-for-soccer-performance/[5] - https://www.goldenbootstrikers.com.au/blog/how-to-be-a-mentally-tough-striker[6] - https://mojo.sport/coachs-corner/shooting-with-the-laces-and-inside-of-foot/[7] - https://topgoalkeeping.com/goalkeeper-positioning-where-keepers-stand-games/[8] - https://www.keeperstop.com/blogs/goalkeeper_drills-angles_positioning?srsltid=AfmBOooN1zl0iAkynNwBwQVvYlE0WefYMEmZ4RgK4MdlVDVzF9NUGxzs[9] - https://xbotgo.com/blogs/knowledge/striker-position-soccer?srsltid=AfmBOoqA9tKNwwcGThTmsbFklPDucN9raEDHg1yGoVDD3KuLMrL8BsfT[10] - https://www.thefa.com/bootroom/resources/coaching/how-to-coach-forward-movement[11] - https://www.switchedontrainingapp.com/new-blog/decision-making-soccer[12] - https://www.360player.com/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-soccer-shooting-tips-drills-to-master-proper-technique[13] - https://www.sportsessionplanner.com/s/HT6Uh/Attacking-in-Tight-Spaces-(9v9).html?interface=en[14] - https://www.competitivedge.com/mental-toughness-tips-soccer/?srsltid=AfmBOop7ugZ7egkbJQ_e5v_R7QeiUjcTg7d79Tz_zAU12YsLbTOxr3VF[15] - https://soccerinteraction.com/keeping-your-head-in-the-game-psychological-techniques-for-young-high-performance-soccer-players[16] - https://www.drpaulmccarthy.com/post/striker-mentality-secrets-what-elite-goal-scorers-never-tell-you[17] - https://beastmodesoccer.com/the-mental-aspects-of-scoring-goals-what-it-takes-to-be-a-world-class-striker/[18] - https://www.risefcsoccer.com/soccer-confidence-building-drills/[19] - https://www.soccertots.net/10-soccer-confidence-building-activities-to-boost-your-game/[20] - https://www.sportplan.net/drills/Football/Shooting/Shooting-Under-Pressure-F602106.jsp[21] - https://coachingamericansoccer.com/psychology/visualization-for-soccer/[22] - https://www.drpaulmccarthy.com/post/goal-setting-strategies-with-a-sport-psychologist
