How to Get Started on a Soccer Kick

Knowing how to kick a soccer ball is very important.  Improper kicking can lead to serious injury.  Here is a brief overview on how to kick a soccer ball.

Begin practicing how to kick a soccer ball with your bare feet.  Start off by sitting on the floor without any socks or shoes on.  Turn the knees inside and kick the soccer ball out of the hands.  Keep the ankle locked and the toes pointed.  Use the laces area of the foot to kick the ball.  The ball should elevate without any spin or just a bit of top pin, if the kick is being executed properly.  The ball should not come close to the face.  If it does, try again.  You can practice kicking a soccer ball in this manner over and over again until the ball goes about two feet in the air.

Once kicking a soccer ball in the air is comfortable, kick the ball twice.  Keep the ankle locked and the toes pointed.  There should still be a slight spin on the ball.  Once this is mastered, stand up and practice kicking the ball out of the hands.  The ball should only go six or seven feet into the air.  No spin should be on the ball. Keep the knees bent a bit when kicking the ball.  The ball should go straight up in the air.

Once these moves are mastered it is time to start kicking the ball around.  Let the ball bounce once on the ground and then kick it against a wall to another player.  Be sure to kick the ball when it is coming down.  Keep the shoes and socks off while doing this and continue using the laces part of the foot.  At this point, the ball should have top spin but don’t kick is above the head.  Repeat these moves over and over again.  Build up power and precision with each kick.  Confidence will grow as the ball becomes more familiar.

At this point, it is time to put the socks and shoes on.  Start kicking the ball from the ground now.  By this time the ball should feel more natural.  Take as much time as necessary to build up soccer skills.  Another way to build up one’s soccer kick is to watch soccer games.  How do the pros do it?  How do the college players do it.

There are a few different soccer ball kicks to choose form.  Soccer kicks are divided into two moan categories.  Ground kicks are divided into two main categories.  The supporting foot needs to be in line with the ball.  This will ensure that the ball is kept under control because it works to help keep power while kicking the ball.  Keep the supporting foot a little behind in order to help build a rising or lofty kick.

When kicking a soccer ball, it is important to keep the upper body in the proper position for the desired kick.  In order to produce a low hard kick, lean forward.  To get the most power out of a kick, it is important to keep the kicking leg knee over and in line with the ball when contact is made.

Volleys are completed when the ball is struck in the air.  Volleys require good balance.  Fast foot adjustments are necessary and an appropriate distance must be achieved.  Never take a volley kick when the ball is very close to the body.  This could cause injury.

As with everything, practice will improve soccer kicks.  Take the time to work on the quality of soccer kicks.  Be patient and realize that no one becomes a great kicker over night.