The Infamous, Game Resolving Toe Poke

The Infamous, Game Resolving Toe Poke
Being a youth coach, I have to constantly remind my players to use “use the shoe laces” while shooting. They all start using toe pokes because it’s the natural thing to do. However the toe poke usually sends the ball in the wrong direction. Or does it?
Consider these 2 World Cup Goals:
1- Romario in Brazil against Sweden in 1994 in the Silver Dome in Detroit (yes I was there!):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrvOo08OeWc



3- Ronaldo in Brazil against Turkey the Semi-Final of the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1QRAbDc-J0


OK, I am using 2 Brazilian examples, but that is on purpose. Being the inventors of the Futsal, Brazilians has somewhat of an advantage when it comes to toe poking. That is because in Futsal the toe poke is the rule and the “shoe lace” the exception.
If you look closely at both goals, you will see that they had 2 things in common:
a- The forward was being marked by multiple players. Taking a big swing of the leg was literally impossible.
b- The goalkeepers were both moving towards the opposite direction of the shot.

With no time to swing, the toe poke requires a lot less time to fire. It also catches the defense and goalkeeper by surprise because they are waiting for the big swing before jumping. Although neither shot was very powerful but both made into the net.

So how do you train the toe poke? Make a very small goal, 3 feet wide and go about 20-25 yards away from it. Toe-poke the ball until you can get 5 in a row inside the small goal.