How to kick a soccer ball

By How To (/journals/how-to)

A clean kick comes from one steady plant foot and firm contact with the laces. Get those two points right and the ball goes where you aim.

You'll need a soccer ball and a clear 20-foot lane of flat ground.

1: PLACE the ball on flat ground three feet ahead of your toes.

Face the target so the ball sits on a straight line toward it. You know the gap is right when one easy step puts your plant foot beside the ball. If the ball sits farther away, walk forward until the space is three feet.

2: STEP in with your non-kicking foot and plant it six inches beside the ball.

Point that foot straight at the target and bend the knee slightly. The plant feels locked when your weight sits over it and you can lift the other foot without wobbling. If you feel tippy, move the foot out to eight inches and plant again.

3: RAISE your kicking heel behind you until the thigh is nearly level with the ground.

Keep both eyes on the ball. Arms hang loose for balance. You feel the coil when the heel reaches the height of the opposite knee. If the leg stays low, lift the heel higher and hold for a count of one before the swing.

4: SWING the kicking leg forward with the ankle locked and toes pointed down at the grass.

Strike the center of the ball with the laces. Contact sounds right when you hear a deep thud and the foot keeps moving. If the ball only dribbles a few feet, you used the toe—lock the ankle harder and hit one inch above center next time.

5: DRIVE your weight forward so the kicking foot lands two to three feet past the ball’s starting spot.

Chest stays over the plant foot through contact. The kick works when the ball leaves at a low angle and travels straight at least 15 feet. If you hop backward, push the chest a hand’s width farther forward on the next try.

The most common mistake

Leaning the chest back pops the ball high and steals power. Keep shoulders over the plant foot until after the foot hits.

Pro tip

Take five slow kicks with no run-up first; say “lock and through” out loud on every swing.

Say it every time

Eyes on the ball, weight forward, kick through.