Men's Health Forum

alex · Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 12:02 pm Post subject: How to Kick a Soccer Ball

How many times have you heard it shouted from the soccer coach's and soccer parents? "Don't kick with your toe, use your laces." Sounds like a simple request, but most people working with youth soccer players find this to be a major stumbling point.

Don't feel bad if you have a soccer player or soccer team that is struggling with the basics of kicking a soccer ball or passing. I have had the pleasure of working with some of the greatest youth coaches that hold a C - A certification and they struggle with the same issue. One of the biggest problems with teaching the correct soccer kick form is that people see this as one simple issue. In our research we found that there are several issues that need to be dealt with.

If you start as we did on the Blast The Ball video, you start with the "evolution of the soccer kick". You MUST learn WHY youth soccer players kick with their toe before you can correct it. Simply telling them to switch to a "lace kick" will not only confuse them and frustrate them, but may also cause serious physical injury.

Pointing the toe DOWN will cause the toe to impact the ground and cause a horrible strain to the top of the foot. This injury will last for several days, but more importantly the psychological impact will last for months. They will fear performing this kick because they know, "it hurts".

Learning how to "shorten the leg" through a V swing and starting with an angle kick is the first step. This allows the soccer player to freely move their foot through the ball without fear of "hitting the ground". Yes this takes time and must be done at a slow pace, but after they learn this method it will be automatic and become a muscle memory.

The next step is to make sure that players get the feeling of LOADING their leg prior to starting the kick. One of the simplest movements yet least understood movements in soccer today is the Soccer Hop. When we show it to professional soccer players, they are simply amazed. They find themselves "soccer hopping" around their living room.

Sadly we often hear many in the youth soccer community say, "kids learn soccer by playing the game". I think this is one of the most detrimental phrases in youth soccer today. How many golfers (hackers) are 60+ years old and still hitting a bad slice? They have over 8000 hours of "playing time" yet haven't learned a thing. On the reverse side, why is it that the top golfers in the world spend hours upon hours at the driving range refining their skills when they are already at the top of their sport?

They understand like we in youth soccer need to understand this important point.

You learn the GAME of soccer by playing the game. It creates overall awareness, creativity and teamwork.

You learn the needed SKILLS to play the game by programming muscle memory and correct swing (kicking) thoughts until they become instinctive.
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