Soccer Technique: How To Kick The Ball

Kicking

There are many different ways of kicking the ball. In order to kick the ball to the direction that we want, it requires high level of skills. Kicking methods can be divided as follows;

Kick the ball by using foot instep

When using foot instep to kick, make sure that the foot you use be fully bent downward and the foot instep should fully touch the ball. Once the foot touch the ball, the ball have to skim to the ground. Importantly when you kick the ball, if position if the knee is too much lean forward to the ball?s position, the direction of the ball will heading down, and then touch the ground before it reach target, which effect to the ball speed. On the other hand, if the knee is too much lean backward to the ball?s position when kicking, the ball will rise up and not go to the desired direction. Therefore, you have to make sure that the knee is in the right direction, not too forward and backward. The foot that not use for kick, put it beside the ball and make sure it is away form the ball around 4-12 inches. Focus on the ball all the time you are kicking.

Run and kick

Run and kick is often use during the game and this method of kicking is quite difficult to do as you seem to have no time to do the kick exactly as instructions. However, The right position when you have to kick while you are running, make sure that you are close to the ball as much as possible. Put the standing foot beside the ball and bend down your knee a little bit, your shoulders and head slightly lean forward. Swing the leg that use for kick fully stretch. Your head should bend down until you kick the ball completely, and always focus on the target that you want to kick to ball to.

Kick the ball by using inside of the foot

This figure is the simplest method to kick the ball, often used when we need to pass the ball to others, because by using this method, you can control the direction of the ball completely and it has the most accuracy. To do this figure, bend down both of your knees a bit when kicking and push the kicking leg follow through after touch the ball.

Kick the ball by using heel

This method of kicking mostly used for trick the person who try to snatch the ball from you and this method is very simple. Firstly, you have to step or jump over the ball, pretending you want to carry the ball forward, then immediately use the heel to punch the ball, pass it to the back direction. This figure require a bit of skills and accuracy when you use heel to kick the ball, because at a time of kicking the ball will be at your back and will not be able to see it. So you need to estimate about the ball?s position in order to kick it correctly.

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Soccer Rules - Fouls - Obstructing or Impeding

In any sport, a foul is a violation of that sport?s code of conduct, and each sport punishes foul play in its own unique way. Soccer defines a foul as an unfair action a player commits against an opposing player or the opposing team during the course of a match. The punishment varies depending upon the nature of the infraction, but will be either a direct or indirect free kick. To be a foul, the act must occur on the field, while the ball is in play. Otherwise, it may constitute a misconduct, and may even warrant a caution or send-off, but it will not be a foul.

For some minor infractions the punishment is an indirect kick. This means that at least two players must touch the ball before the kicking team can score. These fouls are often called ?technical fouls? because most are not the direct result of foul play, but are violations of some procedural rules designed to keep play flowing or prevent more serious fouls from happening. One such ?technical foul? is the offense of impeding an opponent?commonly known as ?obstructing.?

Impeding an opponent
Soccer players often get in each other?s way during the normal run of play. Sometimes, though, players will intentionally block their opponents from running after the ball or moving into tactically important space on the field. The offense of ?impeding an opponent? involves the deliberate use of the body to interfere with the other player?s movement in order to delay his progress, and is punished with an indirect kick. This foul often occurs when a player senses that a speeding opponent will beat him to the ball, or anticipates a potentially troublesome pass into open space. By stepping in front of the opponent and blocking his progress, the player hopes to slow his opponent down so that a teammate can collect the ball. If this action causes more than incidental physical contact with the blocked player, it may constitute a ?charging? or ?holding? foul, rather than ?impeding.?

A player within ?playing distance? of the ball may legally block his opponent?s pathway to it without being guilty of a foul. This is known as ?shielding,? and involves the use of the body to keep possession. Playing distance will vary depending on the speed of the players and the ball, and ultimately rests with the referee?s judgment, but the shielding player does not actually have to touch the ball to shield it legally from the other side. Shepherding the ball out of bounds or towards the keeper is a recognized and quite legitimate tactic, as long as the player guarding the ball stays within playing distance.

Jeffrey Caminsky, a veteran public prosecutor in Michigan, specializes in the appellate practice of criminal law and writes on a wide range of topics. Both his science fiction adventure novel The Star Dancers, the first volume in the Guardians of Peace (tm) science fiction adventure series, and The Referee?s Survival Guide, a book on soccer officiating, are published by New Alexandria Press, http://www.newalexandriapress.com.