If you are a manager or coach and want your team to improve their shooting accuracy, there are many exercises you can plan for training sessions, but you need the right football equipment.
From rebounders that perfect a player’s technique to target nets that build precision, investing in quality tools will help players hit the target every time. In this guide, we’ll explore the best football equipment for improving shooting and share practical tips to make your training sessions more effective.
- Football Rebounders
- Football target Nets
- Football mannequins
- Folding and portable goals
- Cones
Football rebounders
Football rebounders are one of the most effective pieces of equipment for improving shooting technique. They are a must for any modern-day player looking to improve and take their game to the next level.
A rebounder is essentially a board that returns the ball to you after a strike, allowing for continuous practice without the need for a partner. This makes them perfect for solo sessions where repetition is key to building muscle memory.
Using a rebounder helps players refine accuracy, power, and ball control. By striking the ball repeatedly, you can work on hitting the sweet spot of the ball and adjusting your technique in real time. They’re also versatile and can be used to practice volleys, first touches, and quick shooting drills.
A popular training exercise to improve a player's shooting is to have a player play a one-two off the board and then take a shot at the goal. This can replicate in-game scenarios.
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Football target nets
Football target nets are an excellent tool for coaches who want to help players improve their shooting accuracy. These nets attach to a standard goal and create smaller targets to aim for, such as the top corner or bottom corners. This forces players to focus on accuracy rather than just shooting anywhere at the goal.
For coaches, target nets are ideal when planning structured drills. You can set up exercises where strikers repeatedly aim for specific zones, simulating real-match scenarios such as finishing under pressure or hitting the far post.
Target nets are also a great piece of equipment for practising set-pieces. Coaches can use them for free-kick sessions by getting players to aim for precise spots, which are beyond the goalkeeper’s reach.
There are many benefits of using football target nets during a training session, including:
- Improving shooting accuracy
- Enhanced shooting power
- They can be used by a player for shooting when they are alone
- Can be used in group training drills
- Can be used indoors and outdoors
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Football mannequins
Football mannequins are essential equipment for coaches who want to replicate real-game conditions during shooting drills. These mannequins act as static defenders or even simulate a goalkeeper, creating realistic obstacles that force players to adjust their technique and decision-making under pressure.
For free-kick practice, mannequins are essential. Coaches can set up a defensive wall and challenge players to bend the ball around or over it, improving accuracy in dead-ball situations. They’re also perfect for open-play finishing drills, as coaches can position mannequins in and around the penalty area to mimic defenders, encouraging players to find shooting angles and hit precise spots in the goal, as they would in a real-life match.
By incorporating mannequins into training sessions, coaches can teach players how to adapt to crowded spaces and develop composure when shooting under pressure from a defender. This can help create more realism in training sessions and allow players to transition their skills from the training ground to match day.
There are different types of football mannequins that you can choose from, and these include:
- Giant air mannequins
- Football mannequins with a base
- Foam mannequins
- Mannequins with spikes for use on grass pitches, mannequins for junior football.
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Folding and portable goals
A game-changer for football coaches is folding, portable goals, which can help create realistic shooting scenarios during training.
Unlike fixed football goals, folding and portable football goals mean you can set up sessions anywhere, whether it is on a full-size pitch, a smaller training area, or even indoors. This flexibility means coaches can replicate match conditions and plan sessions regardless of the surface you are playing on or the time of the season.
One of the biggest benefits of portable goals is their role in small-sided games. By reducing the playing area and using smaller goals, coaches can increase the intensity of shooting opportunities. These drills also promote quick decision-making, which is vital in competitive matches.
Portable goals are also perfect for targeted shooting drills. Coaches can position them in specific zones to work on finishing from wide areas, central positions, or even during transition play. This adaptability ensures players develop a variety of shooting techniques that translate directly to match-day performance.
Cones
Football cones are regularly used in shooting drills, and their versatility makes them a must-have bit of football equipment.
By setting up cones in strategic patterns, coaches can create drills that replicate real-game movement and patterns of play for attacks and shots at goal. For example, players can weave through cones to simulate beating defenders, then finish with a strike on goal. This not only sharpens shooting accuracy but also develops agility and ball control.
Cones are also ideal for building combination play. Coaches can design passing sequences around cones that lead into a shooting opportunity, helping players understand how to create space and time their runs effectively.
When combined with other equipment, like rebounders or target nets, cones can turn a simple drill into a complete training session that challenges both technical and tactical skills.
For coaches looking to maximise their sessions, cones can offer endless possibilities. They’re lightweight, easy to set up, and perfect for creating dynamic drills that keep players engaged while improving finishing in realistic scenarios.
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The best shooting training drills
Here are some popular shooting drills that professional and grassroots football clubs include in their training sessions.
- One-touch finishing drill: Players receive a pass and shoot with their first touch, improving speed and accuracy under pressure.
- Rebounder shooting drill: A drill that uses a rebounder to return the ball after a strike, allowing players to practise quick reactions and repeated shots.
- Target zone shooting: Attach a target net to the goal and challenge players to hit specific areas.
- Dribble between cones and shoot: This drill sees players dribble through a set of cones before shooting at the goal.
- Mannequin free-kick drill: Set up mannequins as a defensive wall and practise bending shots around them for realistic set-piece training.
- Small-sided match: Use portable, foldable goals in a small-sided match to create frequent shooting opportunities and encourage quick decision-making.
Frequently Asked Questions about football equipment for improving shooting
What equipment helps improve shooting accuracy in football?
The best equipment for improving shooting accuracy includes:
- Target nets
- Rebounders
- Goal mannequins
- Portable, foldable goals
- Cones
Are target nets suitable for beginners?
Target nets are ideal for players of all levels, including beginners. They help develop precision by encouraging players to aim for specific areas of the goal.
What shooting drills can I do with football mannequins?
Football mannequins are perfect for free-kick drills. Coaches can also use them in open-play finishing drills by positioning mannequins as defenders, which forces players to find different shooting angles.
Why should I use portable goals for shooting practice?
Portable goals allow coaches to create flexible, game-like scenarios anywhere on the pitch. They’re great for small-sided games and shooting drills, providing realistic targets that encourage accuracy and quick finishing in tight spaces.
Football equipment to improve shooting
Whether you are a coach or manager looking to set up shooting drills at training or you are a player looking to do extra work at home, Diamond Football offers a wide range of products that can help improve a player’s shooting.
Our equipment includes football mannequins, rebounders, and target nets, helping players to improve their shooting.
Here at Diamond Football, we are experts in football training equipment. Check out our full range and shop with us today.
