A shot in soccer can be a slow roller by an under-6 player that somehow finds the back of the pint-sized net used for the smallest players. Or, it can be a sizzling shot taken by a pro like Inter Milan’s Dejan Stankovic, who volleyed the ball over a rival keeper from midfield in a 2011 Champions League match in Italy. Immediately called “the goal of the season” by expert commentators, Stankovic’s rocket showed the value of being prepared to shoot just 25 seconds into a high-stakes game.
Definition
A shot in soccer is a ball that is kicked or headed towards the goal. The NCAA defines a shot in Section 3 of its Official Soccer Statistics Rules as an attempt taken with the intent of scoring that is directed toward the goal. This excludes crosses, or long kicks typically taken from the side of the field near the goal line that feed the ball into the penalty area in front of the goalkeeper. A goalkeeper who grabs a cross does not receive credit for a save. An exception to this would be a cross that the goalie stops that would have otherwise entered the goal.
