How to Properly Kick a Ball

Watching a professional soccer player kick a ball is nothing short of amazing. The kicker strides and powers the ball into the opposition's goal or out of danger. To learn to kick like a top soccer player will take strength, technique and some focus. Understanding the basics and developing your skills on the field will improve your kicking ability.

Things You'll Need

  • Soccer ball
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove your sock and shoe on your kicking foot. Practice your kick by sitting on the floor. Take the ball and drop it in front of you and kick it in the air. Kick slowly so you get the hang of it. The ball will only travel a few feet but you're focusing on technique. Keep your toe pointed and your ankle locked in position.

    • 2

      Create top spin. Strike the ball with your ankle locked with the ball kicked off of the "laces" part of your foot as you're sitting down. If the ball spins off of your foot, you're creating top spin. Practice and repeat. If you're getting spin, the ball is being kicked correctly.

    • 3

      Stand up and kick the ball with your bare foot. With the ball in your hands, drop and kick as you would do in a football punt. Kick the ball about six feet high. The knee should be slightly bent to provide flexibility and power. As you get spin with a higher kick you're honing your kicking technique.

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    • 4

      Kick the ball in the air and let it bounce once. Kick it again on the rebound from the ground. Repeat until you get control and maintain foot and eye coordination. This technique works on your accuracy.

    • 5

      Line up for a kick. To do this, as you approach the ball, place your supporting leg in line with the ball for a low kick. Place it just behind the line of the ball if you would like to get some loft. Your upper body should lean forward for more power as you're kicking. Conversely, keeping your upper body back will help to provide loft to the kick. The knee of your kicking leg must be above the ball when you make contact. Make a sweeping motion towards your target. Follow through with your leg until it reaches full extension.