Skills – Kicking The Ball

Kicking involves hitting the ball with your foot. Kicking techniques range from basic skills like shooting at a goal or passing a ball to more advanced techniques like bending the ball around a wall and overhead kicks.

A lot of beginners make the common mistake of using their toe to kick the ball. This is wrong. Not only can you get hurt if you are tackled when trying to kick, kicking with the toe is very inaccurate as well. Instead of using the toe, try using your instep. The instep is the part of your foot where the laces are. Kicking with your instep allows you to kick the ball with both power and accuracy. As you practice, you will learn to use your instep to make the ball swerve and dip.

As you prepare to kick the ball, approach it slightly from the side. If you want to kick the ball low, make sure your instep hits the ball higher up, while if you want to kick the ball high make sure your instep hits the ball lower down. It is also important to remember that your non-kicking foot provides support when you are attempting a kick. Your non-kicking foot should be bent as you kick. Allow for a long and smooth follow through as you kick.

It is important to practice kicking regularly, as it is such an integral part of a player’s game. Useful drills for beginners include kicking the ball at targets and passing the ball in pairs, 20 or 30 metres apart. As your skills improve, you can practice kicking the ball at goal with or without a goalkeeper.