Introduction to Football

Lessons

Primary 4 · Physical Education

Introduction to Football

3 lessons

Lesson 2 of 3

Receiving and Shooting

15 min

Let's begin

Ishimwe makes a perfect pass to Uwase. But the ball bounces off her foot and rolls far away, and the other team takes it. Oh no!

A pass is only half the job. The other half is receiving the ball. Today you will learn to receive the ball, and then to shoot at goal.

Receiving: make the ball stop

Receiving (also called controlling the ball) means stopping it close to you, so you are ready to pass, dribble or shoot.

Watch the ball all the way to your foot.
Move so your body is in line with the ball.
Lift your receiving foot a little off the ground and turn it out, in the same shape as the inside-foot pass.
Cushion: as the ball touches your foot, pull your foot back a little. This takes away the speed, like catching an egg without breaking it.
Look up, ready for your next move.

Another way is the sole trap: when the ball rolls to you, gently put the bottom (sole) of your foot on top of it.

Shooting: the laces kick

A shot is a strong kick at the goal. For power, use your laces, the hard top part of your foot.

Look at the goal and choose where you will aim.
Standing foot beside the ball, pointing at the goal.
Toes down, ankle locked.
Knee and head over the ball, then strike the middle of the ball with your laces. If you lean back, the ball flies over the goal.
Follow through towards the goal.

Where to aim

The goalkeeper stands in the middle, so a shot straight at the middle is easy to save. The low corners are the hardest places for a goalkeeper to reach. Remember: a gentle shot into the corner beats a hard shot straight at the goalkeeper. Aim first, then add power.

Games with little equipment

Receive, turn, shoot: make a goal from two stones. A partner passes to you, you control the ball with one touch, then shoot. Swap after five shots.
Goalkeeper battle: two players, each with a small goal of sandals, 6 metres apart. Take turns shooting at each other's goal and saving with your hands. Only shoot from your own goal line.

Warning

Stay safe

Only shoot when the goalkeeper says "ready".
Nobody stands behind the goal during shooting practice.
Shoot with your laces, not your toes: a toe-poke can hurt your toes and is hard to aim.

Tip

Catch the egg, then aim for the corners

When receiving, pull your foot back as if you are catching an egg. When shooting, remember: inside of the foot to aim, laces for power, corners to score.

✦

Try it yourself

Try each one first, then tap Show answer to check.

1

Why do you pull your foot back a little when the ball arrives?

Show answerHide answer

Answer: To cushion the ball and take away its speed, so it stops close to you.

2

Which part of the foot gives a shot the most power?

Show answerHide answer

Answer: The laces, the hard top of the foot.

3

Byiringiro's shots keep flying over the goal. What should he change?

Show answerHide answer

Answer: He is leaning back. He should keep his knee and head over the ball.

4

The goalkeeper is standing in the middle of the goal. Where is the best place to aim?

Show answerHide answer

Answer: A low corner, because it is the hardest place for the goalkeeper to reach.

Quick check

Match each part of the foot to what you use it for.

Tap one on the left, then its partner on the right.

What you learned today

To receive, watch the ball and cushion it by pulling your foot back.
To shoot, use your laces, keep your head and knee over the ball, and follow through.
Aim for the low corners: aim first, then add power.

Sources and credits

Association football, by Simple English Wikipedia contributors, Simple English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Background facts (the goalkeeper and goals) adapted and simplified by Ganzaa.
Rwandan children playing (photo), by RWAYITARE250, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, used unchanged.
Skill steps, games, diagrams, "Try it yourself" and the practice questions written by Ganzaa.

This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.

1Receiving: make the ball stop

2Shooting: the laces kick

3Where to aim

4Games with little equipment

Try it yourself

Receiving: make the ball stop

Shooting: the laces kick

Where to aim

Games with little equipment