The striker position attracts every young player who wants to score goals. But developing a U12 into an effective striker requires much more than shooting practice.
Great strikers are made through systematic development of movement, technique, decision-making, and mental resilience. At U12, you’re building the foundation for everything that follows.
This guide covers the complete approach to striker development at U12 level - what to teach, how to teach it, and the common mistakes that limit young forwards.
Understanding the U12 Striker
Physical Reality at U12
Players at this age are:
- Pre-peak height velocity (growth spurt usually 12-14)
- Developing coordination that can feel awkward
- Building strength but not yet powerful
- Capable of more complex movement patterns
This means your striker development focuses on technique and understanding rather than physical dominance. The players who rely on being bigger/faster now often struggle later when others catch up physically.
Mental Characteristics
U12 strikers typically:
- Judge themselves entirely on goals scored
- Get frustrated by missed chances
- Want to shoot from everywhere
- Struggle with the patience required for build-up play
Your role is reshaping their understanding of what makes a good striker.
The Four Pillars of Striker Development
Pillar 1: Movement That Creates Chances
Goals start with movement. A striker standing still is a striker who never receives the ball in dangerous positions.
The Four Essential Movements:
1. The Diagonal Run
- Start central, run across the defender toward the wide areas
- Creates separation from markers
- Opens space for midfielders to run into
- When: Ball is with wide players or advancing midfielders
2. The Drop-Off
- Come short toward the ball, away from goal
- Draws defenders out, creates space behind
- Allows combination play with midfield
- When: Team needs a passing option, or to draw defenders
3. The Spin Behind
- After dropping off, spin and run behind the defence
- The classic “show and go” movement
- When: Defender follows you tight on the drop
4. The Near Post Run
- Attack front post from crosses
- Gets ahead of defender, first to the ball
- When: Wide player in crossing position
Training Movement:
Don’t drill movements in isolation. Use small-sided games that reward them:
Example: 4v4 + Target Player
- Striker is the target player beyond the end line
- Can only score by receiving a pass from the striker who then lays off
- Forces strikers to create space through movement to receive
Pillar 2: Finishing Technique
U12 is the time to build finishing technique that lasts a career. Bad habits formed now become very difficult to correct later.
The Finishing Fundamentals:
Placement vs Power At U12, emphasise placement over power. Accuracy is a skill; power comes with physical development. A well-placed finish beats a powerful miss every time.
Both Feet Development This is the critical window. A striker who can only finish with one foot is half a striker. Every finishing session should include weak foot work - even if success rates are initially low.
First Touch Finishing The ability to finish quickly from a first touch:
- Sets the ball out of feet for the strike
- Shoots before the defender recovers
- Requires anticipation of where the ball will arrive
Key Finishing Techniques to Develop:
- Side-foot placement - Accuracy into corners
- Instep drive - Power with control
- Inside cut finish - After taking on goalkeeper
- First-time strike - From crosses and passes
- Heading - Introduction to aerial finishing
Training Finishing:
High volume with variety. Strikers need repetition, but not the same repetition:
Example: Finishing Circuit (12 minutes)
- Station 1: Side-foot finish from angle (2 mins)
- Station 2: First-time finish from pass (2 mins)
- Station 3: Turn and shoot (2 mins)
- Station 4: 1v1 with goalkeeper (2 mins)
- Station 5: Weak foot finishing (2 mins)
- Station 6: Header from crossed ball (2 mins)
Rotate through twice. Different angles, different techniques, high volume.
Pillar 3: Link-Up Play
Modern strikers aren’t just goal scorers - they’re integral to team build-up. At U12, start developing the skills that enable combination play.
Essential Link-Up Skills:
The Lay-Off
- Receive with back to goal
- Simple pass to oncoming midfielder
- Spin and look for return pass
- Requires: Good first touch, body strength to hold off defender, awareness of support
The One-Two
- Pass to teammate, immediately move for return
- Timing the run to stay onside
- When: Defender is tight, space exists behind them
Hold-Up Play
- Receive and protect the ball
- Wait for support to arrive
- Either play a pass or turn when space opens
- Requires: Body positioning, strength, patience
Training Link-Up:
Example: Striker Combinations (2v1 overload)
- Striker receives with defender behind
- Supporting player arrives from midfield
- Options: lay off and spin, turn and shoot, hold and combine
- Rotate roles regularly
Pillar 4: Mental Resilience
This might be the most important pillar at U12. The mental side of striking is brutal - you will miss more than you score, even at the highest level.
Building Striker Mentality:
Reframe Success
- Celebrate chance creation, not just goals
- Praise the movement that created the opportunity
- “Great run - the finish will come”
- Count shots on target, not just goals
Normalise Missing
- Share statistics: Even elite strikers convert 15-20% of chances
- Missing is part of the position
- The best strikers miss the most because they get the most chances
Short Memory Training
- After a miss, immediate next action
- Don’t let players dwell
- Quick transitions in training replicate match mentality
Confidence Through Volume
- The more they shoot, the more they score
- Regular finishing creates muscle memory
- Confidence comes from competence, competence from repetition
Training Mental Resilience:
Example: The Striker’s Challenge
- 10 chances, different scenarios
- Points: 3 for goal, 1 for shot on target, 0 for miss
- Target: 15 points
- Finish with goals, not misses (always end on success)
A Sample Striker Development Session (75 minutes)
Warm-Up with Purpose (10 mins)
- Movement patterns without ball (diagonal runs, drops, spins)
- Add ball: receive, turn, pass - varying starting positions
- Dynamic stretches integrated with movements
Technical Block: Finishing (20 mins)
- Finishing circuit (as described above)
- Focus: technique over power, both feet
- High repetition, quick rotation
Tactical Block: Movement and Combination (20 mins)
- 3v3 + target strikers (2)
- Strikers can only score from lay-offs
- Forces movement, link-up, and timing
- Rotate strikers every 5 minutes
Game Application (20 mins)
- 6v6 small-sided game
- Condition: Goals from striker movement count double
- Normal game otherwise
- Coach reinforces movement patterns during play
Cool Down (5 mins)
- Light passing in pairs
- Review: What movements created chances today?
- Positive reinforcement of effort and improvement
Common Mistakes in Striker Development
Mistake 1: Only Finishing Practice
Strikers need more than shooting drills. Movement, link-up, and game understanding make the finishing opportunities happen.
Mistake 2: Ignoring the Weak Foot
Every session should include weak foot work. The earlier you build it, the more natural it becomes.
Mistake 3: Power Over Placement
U12s don’t have the physical development for powerful strikes. Teach accuracy now; power develops naturally with growth.
Mistake 4: Static Finishing Drills
Standing and shooting from the same spot builds limited skills. Vary angles, add pressure, create game-realistic scenarios.
Mistake 5: Judging Only by Goals
Goals will come and go. Judge strikers on their movement, their work rate, their link-up play. The goals follow good process.
Developing Complete Forwards
The U12 striker who learns movement, technique, link-up play, and mental resilience becomes the U16 forward who terrorises defences.
This is the foundation age. What you build now determines what’s possible later.
Position-specific development requires systematic progression - building skills week by week, connecting technical work to tactical understanding, and ensuring players develop all aspects of their position.
For complete position-specific coaching across all 19 positions with progressive session plans, the Complete Coaching System provides the structured approach that develops well-rounded players ready for any challenge.
Your U12 striker can become a complete forward. Focus on movement before finishing, technique before power, and process before results. The goals will follow.
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