SAY Soccer is here in Vinton County! The
Soccer Association for Youth (SAY) was formed to provide an organization so
children could learn and play soccer. The fact
that any size player can be successful at the game and there is only a modest expense
required to field a team, make it possible for many children to participate in
organized competition around the world. |
Vinton County Ohio Soccer Association for
Youth
How to kick a football (soccer ball) correctly
By
Jeff Pill,
US Soccer, Women’s National Staff Coach shooting
drills and games
I am
often asked for advice on how to strike a ball properly, especially to
hit the ball over a long distance, or to shoot it really hard.
Here is a progression that I like to do with practically any aged
player. I have recently used variations of this with a group of U-10
players as well as with the U-16 National Team. Being able to drive a
ball over distance, so that the ball reaches its destination with pace
and accuracy is a skill that is necessary to compete at the higher
levels. There is nothing like seeing a ball “crashing” in to the back
of the net, or a pass being made to a wide open player that is waiting
50 – 60 yards away from the play. So, listed below is a progression to
follow to teach you the fundamentals of this skill. Emphasis is placed
on getting the proper “surface” of your foot involved in the process…
the “laces”. Once a player establishes the proper “feel” for the ball
with this part of his or her foot, then the rest is just a matter of
practice and developing strength and timing. This comes from hours of
work, alone with the ball.
Start way back with the basics....
Take off your shoe and sock. Sit on the floor, with both feet on the
floor... knees inside your arms...start by kicking the ball out of
your hands (like a punt). But, just do it lightly so that the ball
only goes up about 2 feet or so.
Make sure that your toe is pointed and that you keep your ankle
"locked". Strike the ball with the "laces" part of the foot. If your
ball goes up without any spin...or with a little "top" spin... then
you are doing it correctly. If the ball comes back towards your
face...then try again. Keep doing this over and over...it will develop
a good feel for what it is like to hit the ball with your laces. After
you have managed that...try hitting the ball twice with the foot. But,
make sure that there is still a proper spin...ankle locked...toe
pointed.
When you get good control it is time to stand up.
Now, do the same thing… kick the ball out of your hands (like a punt)
but have the ball only go up in the air about 6-7 feet high. Look for
the ball going up with no spin again. Keep your foot in that good
position. Your knee needs to be slightly bent as well. Kick the ball
straight up in the air. Again, you are just trying to get a good feel
for the ball. The ball's spin tells you if you are doing it correctly.
Then, try to do it with a bounce between each kick. But, still only
have the ball go up about 6-7 feet high. It is important that you do
this with control instead of power. This is almost like juggling, but
let the ball bounce each time. Then, can you do two touches...(each
one going up without backspin) between each bounce?
Now...progress where you are letting the ball bounce on the ground,
then kick it to a friend or against some wall. Still with bare feet!
Make sure that you strike the ball when it is on the way down. Hit it
with your "laces". Toe pointed, ankle locked. Now, the ball should
have "top spin"...and should not go higher than your head. Keep
working on this for MANY times. See if you can now work on accuracy
and some power. Again, you should be getting a real feel for the ball
with your laces.
After you do this...it is time to put your shoes back on and try from
the ground again. See if there is any improvement... there should be.
You should have a real feel for the ball by now!
One warning...this takes time!!! Some players that I have worked with
on this need a whole season to work things out. Practice correctly!!!
It is more important to "practice perfectly" than to kill yourself
working frantically and too hard. Take your time.
My last suggestion is to watch high level games. Watch how the real
good players strike the ball. Watch them, then try to copy them!
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Why can't I kick the ball HARD? |
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You might be taking a long, slow strike at the ball
rather than a shorter, sharp strike. This is because a big
windup doesn't necessarily impart sufficient kinetic energy
(mass x velocity squared divided by 2). This explains why short,
stocky players can generate power on the ball--a short, fast
strike contributes to kinetic energy as a square versus the
linear increase of weight alone.
Also your head might be coming up on the strike - if you look up
as the ball leaves your foot, you impart less mass and velocity,
ergo less kinetic energy.
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