While all CSSC leagues are fun first, winning second, let’s face it, scoring is fun! When you step out on to that court, primal nature takes over and the need to score is fierce. There’s just one problem, it’s not always that easy!
You see this small net with very few openings and wonder how you are supposed to get the ball through. Well, there are a few strategies to try to give your team the edge.
Bounce Shot: While this shot might not seem like the most obvious choice, it can be quite effective. Bouncing the ball off the ground in front of the goalie can be disorienting causing the goalie to miss the rebound and the shot to go in the net! Try to aim for the floor right in front of the goalie for the best results and put some spin on the ball to make it even more difficult to stop the bounce.
Fake-out Shot: The fake out is possibly one of the simplest of strategies and there are a number of ways it can be achieved. To fake out the goalie, try fake passing to a teammate while shooting it at the net directly. Alternatively, while looking at or calling out to a teammate for a pass, shoot it at the net instead. Either of these should catch the goalie off guard and increase your chances of scoring.
Corner Shot: The corners are the best areas to aim for when shooting at the net. They are the hardest spots to defend but there a couple of other things to keep in mind when trying this. Take note of who is playing in net. If the goalie is on the shorter side, try to aim for the top corners as they may have a tough time reaching those areas. Alternatively, if a goalie is quite tall, aim low as they usually have less mobility in those pesky bottom corners!
Jump Shot: The jump shot can be effective but tricky to pull off. It requires proper timing and awareness to ensure you are not charging the defense and committing a foul. The key is to run and take off just as you reach the crease. As you are flying in the air towards the net, release the ball mid-jump before you land in the crease. The most important thing is to be in control and ensure you are using this shot in a safe way.
Go out there and give a few of these strategies a shot and see what works best for you!
Good luck and have fun!
