Shooting the Soccer Ball
Power Shots
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Shooting the soccer ball with my laces is one of the first things I was taught when I first learnt to play soccer as a youngster because it is of course a key part of knowing how to play soccer. Until you get good at placing shots with the side of your foot out of the goalkeeper’s reach, powerful shots with your laces are probably the best option as they are generally harder to deal with. But there’s no point kicking with power if your shot goes over the bar, so here I show you how to shoot with both power and accuracy.
1) Take a run up to the ball
2) Place your non kicking foot next to the ball
3) Lean slightly forwards so you head is over the ball (this stops the ball going miles in the air)
4) Aim and swing back your kicking leg
5) Kick the ball with your laces to get power
6) Follow through with your kicking leg having made contact
So that’s the power shot- find a goal and get shooting!
Placed Shots
Placing the soccer ball is generally slower because you kick with the side of your foot. Although people may not get their shots accurate to start with, this type of shot can become very effective as you can simply position the ball out of the goalkeeper’s reach: watch some of the goals Thierry Henry scored for Arsenal- he is a master of the placed shot! Anyway, just follow the brief guide below and you too will have it down to a fine art.
1) Take a very short run up
2) Place your non kicking foot next to the ball
3) Lean slightly forwards so your head is over the ball
4) Swing you kicking leg back slightly
5) Look at where the goalkeeper is and aim away from them
6) Kick the ball with the side of your kicking foot in the direction you want it to go
There you have it- you can now be the master of shooting the soccer ball, why not return to the soccer skills page?
