Most coaches think striker training starts with finishing. They’re wrong.
Traditional approaches overlook the critical element of off-ball movement. Watch any elite striker - Haaland, Kane, Lewandowski - and you’ll notice they spend far more time moving without the ball than with it. Their finishing ability matters, but their movement creates the opportunities to finish.
Intelligent positioning separates consistently effective strikers from occasional scorers. The striker who scores 20 goals a season doesn’t necessarily have better technique than the one who scores 8 - they create better opportunities through superior movement.
The Movement Gap Problem
Strikers spend minimal time on the pitch actually receiving the ball - perhaps 3-5 times per match in the attacking third - yet execute dozens of movement actions during that same period. This creates a fundamental training problem.
Most youth training sessions dedicate 80% of striker development time to finishing drills. Players line up, receive a pass, and shoot. This completely ignores the 95% of match time where strikers must work to create shooting opportunities.
Common problems:
- Forwards remain static, waiting passively for possession
- Movement patterns are predictable and linear
- Players lack tactical awareness of how positioning affects team structure
- Development focuses on individual benefit rather than collective advantage
- Timing of runs fails to match the rhythm of team possession
- Movement happens too early, allowing defenders to recover
The result: strikers who look sharp in shooting drills but disappear during matches. They can finish when given chances but rarely create those chances through intelligent movement.
Four Essential Movement Patterns
Every effective striker needs to master four core movement types. Each creates different problems for defenders and different opportunities for the attacking team.
| Movement Pattern | Primary Purpose | When to Use | Defender Response |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depth Run | Stretch defence vertically | Ball in midfield, defence high | Forces retreat |
| Drop Movement | Create space for others | Buildup phase, congested midfield | Pulls CB forward |
| Lateral Drift | Create overloads wide | Wing play developing | Confuses marking |
| False Movement | Create separation | 1v1 situations, static defence | Commits defender |
1. The Depth Run
Purpose: Stretch defences vertically and create space behind the backline.
The depth run is the most direct goal-scoring movement. When executed correctly, the striker arrives at the ball with momentum, often in a 1v1 with the goalkeeper.
Execution:
- Start by aligning level with the deepest defender (not ahead - this triggers the offside trap)
- Check your shoulder to know when teammates are ready to release the ball
- Wait for the trigger: teammate’s head lifts, ball rolls forward, or they shape to pass
- Accelerate explosively the moment the ball leaves the passer’s foot
- Curve your run to stay onside and create a better angle to goal
- Aim toward the far post - this gives you the entire goal to shoot at
Visual Triggers to Watch For:
- Midfielder receives facing forward with time on the ball
- Defender turns hips toward own goal
- Space opens between centre-backs
- Full-back pushes high, leaving space behind
Common Mistakes:
- Running too early (offside or defender recovers)
- Running in a straight line (easy for defenders to track)
- Slowing down after initial burst (loses advantage)
This movement requires real training intensity to develop properly.
2. The Drop Movement
Purpose: Open space for teammates while becoming available during buildup play.
The drop movement creates a difficult decision for centre-backs: follow the striker and leave space behind, or hold position and give the striker time on the ball. Either choice benefits the attacking team.
Execution:
- Retreat 10-15 yards toward own goal, moving into the space between opponent’s midfield and defence
- Present body at an angle - you need to see the passer and the space behind simultaneously
- Show for the ball with a clear signal (hand up, verbal call)
- Receive and play first-time if under pressure, or turn if space allows
- After releasing the ball, immediately look for the next movement (depth run, lateral drift)
The Chain Reaction: When you drop, space opens behind you. This creates opportunities for:
- Runners from midfield bursting past your starting position
- Wingers cutting inside into central areas
- Full-backs overlapping into wide spaces
- Second strikers attacking the vacated zone
Quality Check Questions:
- Did the centre-back follow me? (Good - space behind)
- Did I receive facing forward? (Ideal for forward passes)
- Did a teammate exploit the space I created? (Team benefit)
- Did I move again immediately after passing? (Continuous threat)
3. The Lateral Drift
Purpose: Generate central space and confuse defensive marking assignments.
The lateral drift pulls centre-backs out of position horizontally, creating gaps in the defensive structure. It’s particularly effective against zonal marking systems where defenders hand off responsibilities.
Execution:
- Move sideways across the pitch while maintaining forward positioning
- Time drift to coordinate with advancing wingers or fullbacks
- Position yourself in the “half-space” between centre-back and full-back
- Create 2v1 overloads on flanks
- Anticipate cutbacks - when the winger reaches the byline, attack the near post
- If space opens centrally (because you’ve pulled the CB wide), dart back into it
When to Drift:
- Ball is with your winger and they have time to pick a pass
- Centre-backs are narrow and compact
- Full-back has pushed forward leaving space behind
- Play is congested centrally and width creates opportunity
The Key Insight: Your goal isn’t necessarily to receive the ball. Sometimes the lateral drift creates space for a teammate to exploit centrally. The selfless movement often creates the best team opportunities.
4. The False Movement
Purpose: Deceive defenders and create separation through misdirection.
False movements are the most difficult to teach but the most devastating when mastered. The best strikers in the world use false movements constantly - short checks, shoulder drops, fake runs - to create the half-yard of separation they need.
Execution:
- Make initial movement in one direction with conviction (this is crucial - half-hearted fakes don’t work)
- Use body language and acceleration to sell the fake (lean, arm movement, eye contact)
- Watch the defender’s hips - when they commit, you’re ready to change direction
- Change direction explosively when defender commits, using a sharp cut
- Attack the space created by the defender’s reaction
Types of False Movement:
| Movement | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Check and Go | Short movement toward ball, then spin behind | Defender tight behind you |
| Fake Run | Burst one direction, cut to another | Starting from standing position |
| Dummy Run | Run that isn’t meant to receive | Creating space for teammate |
| Shoulder Drop | Show one way with body, go the other | Receiving with back to goal |
The Timing Secret: The false movement must happen at the right moment in the team’s possession. Too early and the ball isn’t ready. Too late and the opportunity has passed. Watch your teammates - when they’re about to play the ball, that’s when your false movement needs to pay off.
Reading Defensive Vulnerabilities
Elite strikers don’t just execute movements - they read the defence to choose the right movement at the right time. This scanning and decision-making separates truly intelligent forwards from those who simply run hard.
Centre-back Positioning Cues:
| Defender Posture | What It Tells You | Movement to Exploit |
|---|---|---|
| Weight on heels | Slow to react to runs behind | Depth run |
| Turned toward ball | Blind to your movement | Lateral drift, false movement |
| Narrow spacing | Gap between CB and FB | Lateral drift into channel |
| One CB tight, one deep | Space between them | Run into the gap |
| Poor communication | Confusion about marking | False movement to create mixup |
Goalkeeper Awareness: Smart strikers also track the goalkeeper’s position:
- Deep positioning creates opportunities for near-post runs and low finishes
- Advanced positioning suggests space for chips and lobs behind
- Poor angles reveal weak-side vulnerabilities to exploit
- Goalkeeper watching the ball means less awareness of your run
Full-back Position: The full-back’s position often determines the best movement:
- Full-back high: Space behind for diagonal depth run
- Full-back deep: Lateral drift creates overload
- Full-back narrow: Width available in channel
Common Movement Mistakes
Moving Too Early: The most common error. Players see space and sprint into it before the ball is ready. By the time the pass arrives, the defender has recovered. Solution: Wait for visual triggers - teammate’s head up, ball rolling forward, or body shape to pass.
Predictable Patterns: Strikers who always make the same movement become easy to mark. If you always go short, defenders will anticipate it. If you always run the channel, they’ll cover it. Solution: Vary approaches to the same scenario. Sometimes drop, sometimes spin, sometimes hold.
Ball-Watching: Players who watch the ball can’t see defensive movements or space opening. Solution: Force constant environmental scanning - shoulder checks, peripheral awareness, and pre-movement scanning.
Individual Focus: Movements designed solely for personal gain often hurt the team. Running into space your winger needed, or dragging a defender into a teammate’s path. Solution: Reward movements that benefit teammates, even when you don’t receive the ball.
Static After Passing: Strikers who stop moving after laying the ball off waste opportunities. The defence is momentarily unsettled - that’s the time to make another movement. Solution: Chain movements together - drop, pass, spin, depth run.
Age-Appropriate Development
Striker movement should be taught progressively based on developmental stage:
Ages 8-10: Foundation Phase
- Focus: Basic movement concepts - moving to receive, finding space
- Key patterns: Simple depth runs, checking to ball
- Approach: Praise any intelligent movement, don’t overcomplicate
- Training tip: Use tag games and keep-away to develop movement instincts naturally
Ages 11-13: Development Phase
- Focus: All four movement patterns introduced individually
- Key patterns: Add lateral drift and drop movements
- Approach: Teach one pattern at a time over 4-6 week blocks
- Training tip: Use video analysis to show examples of each movement
Ages 14-16: Application Phase
- Focus: Chaining movements together, reading defenders
- Key patterns: False movements, combining patterns
- Approach: Connect movements to team tactics and game situations
- Training tip: Question players: “Why did you choose that movement?”
Ages 17+: Refinement Phase
- Focus: Intuitive decision-making, subtle variations
- Key patterns: Advanced false movements, split-second reads
- Approach: Minimal instruction, maximum game-realistic practice
- Training tip: Analyse professional footage of elite strikers
Training Session Structure
Effective striker movement training follows a clear progression within each session:
| Phase | Duration | Focus | Example Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warm-up | 10 min | Movement patterns without pressure | Shadow movements, guided runs |
| Technical | 15 min | Specific pattern with passive defence | Depth runs with mannequin defenders |
| Scenario | 15 min | Pattern under semi-active pressure | 3v2 attacking patterns |
| Game | 20 min | All patterns in game context | Small-sided game with scoring incentives |
Implementation Steps
- Assess current strikers using this movement framework - watch match footage and identify which patterns they use and which they avoid
- Introduce scanning habits into every training session - players should check shoulders before every action
- Focus on one movement pattern weekly until automaticity develops - rushing through all four creates confusion
- Record sessions for movement quality analysis - video reveals patterns players can’t see themselves
- Challenge players to explain their movement choices - understanding “why” accelerates development
- Create game-realistic pressure - movements practiced without defenders won’t transfer to matches
- Reward team-benefiting movements - celebrate runs that create space for others
Great strikers aren’t born - they’re developed. Intelligent movement is the foundational skill separating elite forwards from adequate ones. A striker with average finishing but excellent movement will outscore a clinical finisher who doesn’t move well.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to develop good movement patterns?
Expect 6-12 months of consistent focus before movements become automatic. The progression is: conscious incompetence (can’t do it) → conscious competence (can do it with concentration) → unconscious competence (automatic). Don’t rush this process.
Should all strikers learn all four movements?
Yes, but some players will naturally favour certain patterns based on their physical and mental attributes. A quick, slight striker might excel at depth runs and false movements. A physical target man might prefer drop movements and lateral drifts. Develop all four, then let players specialise.
How do I coach movement without stopping play constantly?
Use “freeze frames” sparingly - stop play only for critical teaching moments. Most coaching should happen through pre-session instruction, half-time discussions, and post-session video review. During play, use short verbal cues: “Check!”, “Depth!”, “Drift!”
What if my striker is physically slower than defenders?
Movement quality beats pure pace. Intelligent timing, false movements, and reading defenders allow slower strikers to create separation. Focus on anticipation and decision-making rather than straight-line speed. The best strikers often aren’t the fastest.
How do I balance movement training with finishing practice?
The most effective approach integrates both. Finishing drills should start from game-realistic movements, not static positions. Instead of “stand here, receive, shoot,” try “make a depth run, receive, finish” or “drop, receive, turn, shoot.”
Can these patterns work with two strikers?
Absolutely - and the combinations become even more powerful. One striker drops while the other goes deep. One drifts wide while the other attacks the box. Teaching two strikers to read each other’s movements creates devastating attacking partnerships.
Ready to develop strikers who create their own chances? The Game Model shows you how to build attacking principles that maximise striker effectiveness. For complete striker development sessions, explore our 328 Training Sessions or join the 360TFT Academy for position-specific training frameworks.