How to Kick the Soccer Ball

Soccer, also known as football everywhere outside the U.S., is a sport where players kick a medium-sized spherical ball to try to score goals against the other team.

Instructions

  1. Inside Foot or Push Pass

    • 1

      Put your supporting (non-kicking) leg about four inches to the side of the ball with the toes facing the target.

    • 2

      Begin the kicking motion with your kicking leg's foot perpendicular to your supporting leg's foot.

    • 3

      Strike the ball with the inside or arch of your foot and follow through to the target. This results in a controlled kick that is accurate and good for passing but does not generate a lot of speed or power.

    Kicking with the Outside of the Foot

    • 4

      Put your supporting leg four inches from the side of the ball with your foot angled about 15-30 degrees wide from your target.

    • 5

      Begin the kicking motion with your kicking foot aimed straight at the target.

    • 6

      Strike the ball with the laces (top) of your foot and follow through towards the target. This results in a kick that is still fairly easy to control but can generate some power. Use this if you need to make fast or long passes or controlled shots at the goal.

    Instep Drive

    • 7

      Place your supporting foot directly behind the ball with your toes aimed at the target.

    • 8

      Begin the kicking motion, making sure that backswing and the foreswing are one fluid movement.

    • 9

      Allow yourself to generate speed and power with the kick by imagining that the ball is nonexistent.

    • 10

      Lean forward slightly as you connect with the ball, making sure your shoulders are over it.

    • 11

      Strike the ball with the top inside of your foot and continue to accelerate the leg through the follow through.

    Inside Curve

    • 12

      Put your supporting foot slightly to the side of the ball with your toes aimed at the target.

    • 13

      Begin the kicking motion and hit the ball with the top of your big toe.

    • 14

      Strike the ball low and on the outside. This will produce the spin that will generate a curve in the ball's trajectory path.

    • 15

      Follow through the swing not necessarily in the direction of the target but the natural motion your kick is making.

    Ourtside Curve

    • 16

      Put your supporting foot slightly to the side of the ball with your toes aimed at the target.

    • 17

      Begin the kicking motion, connecting to the ball with the lower part of your laces, on the outside of your foot.

    • 18

      Strike the ball low and on the inside. This will produce the spin that will generate a curve in the ball's trajectory path.

    • 19

      Follow through the swing not necessarily in the direction of the target but the natural motion your kick is making.

    Volley

    • 20

      Place your supporting foot directly behind the ball with your toes aimed at the target.

    • 21

      Focus on timing instead of connecting with the ball. You don't need a lot of power to volley. You want to kick a lofting, airborne ball into the air again.

    • 22

      Strike the ball with the top of your laces, making sure to control the ball rather than generate power. This results in a kick that you can use to pass to teammates while avoiding opponents.