Filed under: Dave Clarke, Soccer Coaching, Soccer Fitness, Soccer News, Soccer Refereeing, Soccer Skills | Tags: creative play, how to take a penalty, left foot, penalty
Often it’s that little bit of creativity or something different that gives your team the edge in winning matches. Allowing young players to do it is also part of your coaching learning experience. No you don’t want to see backheels when you’re defending the penalty area, and no you don’t want to see a fancy penalty that could go horribly wrong.
Or do you?
Giving players licence to try something different is keeping the fun in the game. For sure they may get some feedback from their team mates if it goes wrong but you should allow the mistake and forget about it.
Take a look at Ezequiel Calvente playing for Spain’s u19s against Italy in the Uefa European U19 championship.
The Spaniard beats the Italian Goalkeeper after running up to seemingly hit the spot kick with his right foot only to surprise everyone by hitting with his left.
Watch carefully as he totally out-smarts the keeper and just about everyone when he switches very late with his shot.
