In most sports you have to learn proper form, but when it comes to soccer mechanics kids are not being taught! One reason it’s overlooked is because athletic players can dominate opponents without having good form. Another reason mechanics are not being taught enough is coaches can just lay out cones and have kids do drills. For players to improve faster and reach their potential it’s vital that they learn how to place their feet, bend knees, lean over or back depending on the situation. Note: This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
Are soccer mechanics being taught?
Just the other day I was talking to one of my athletes dads about soccer mechanics… He totally understands the importance because his other son plays baseball & American football…
If you have been around sports like baseball, tennis, golf then you know what MECHANICS are.
Most sports you have to have good technique to be good, whereas sports like football – most positions you can dominate with speed or strength. Especially compared to baseball, golf and tennis.
Are you learning the right form?
A coach can have a bunch of skill drills that are good, but what if the players use the wrong form over and over?
This might be one of the worst things that can happen to a player.
Practicing something over and over is going to teach certain muscle memory that is either going to be good or bad.
In my experience teaching players in 1on1 sessions even the best coached kids are not getting enough details… This I mean mechanics [form].
Sports that don’t need mechanics to be good
In tackle football, soccer or even basketball you can be one of the best with pure athleticism.
Although, nowadays in high school you need to be sharp on your skills too, especially if you play in a very competitive area.
So many young athletes are getting specialized training to improve overall performance which by high school there is a pretty big gap from the ‘Trained and Un-Trained”.
Soccer mechanics are being left out which is hurting player development.
“To improve your skill you must learn proper form”
Learning good habits to improve soccer mechanics [form]
So for players who are starting late, you have to set an end goal…
Meaning, you want to set your goal to make the HS team right. Some kids decide they want to tryout 4 months before the coach picks teams.
Then if the player doesn’t make the team they usually decide soccer is not for them, but the problem is they don’t understand it takes time.
For late bloomers, I recommend that they stick with it and try out the following year too. This gives you enough time for a fair chance.
Think about the movie ‘Rudy’ about the little guy who ended up playing for the great Notre Dame. Rudy kept trying and trying until he got the end goal.
What is bad or good soccer form?
Most important are how a player is trapping [receiving] the ball.
Then also how are they passing [kicking] the ball?
There are many ways to pass the ball, but for a novice soccer player who is just beginning there are certain skills they need to learn first.
When using the inside of the foot to trap or pass have the toes up not down… This helps for the target area to be bigger and easier to follow through.
video – improve short passing and first touch.
Proper form to get power on your kick
If you wanted to learn how to get power on your kick, then you could use the top of the foot… Some people call it the laces.
Using the laces is not the only way to get power, but coaches want players who can pass or shoot using the top of the foot.
The confusing part of the laces is nowadays some of the shoes [boots] that are made have laces on the side of the foot…
So, when kids hear laces, they need to know that this means the top of the foot and not necessarily the actual laces.
Soccer mechanics when using the [Laces]
You want to have your toe down, but this is not all. There is SO much that goes into this…
First, there is more than just 1 way to kick with the top of the foot.
Second, you have to get at least 6 main things right in each attempt for it to work.
With practice you will get it! Just be patient and make sure your form is right before you go practice.
A very important question
The truth is, most kids no matter the age are not being taught this at practice:
(Q) What are Mechanics?
At this point I am shocked when someone knows.
This is important to get right, but don’t worry… If it’s not right you can fix it with practice. This means you need to practice teaching your muscles the right way to approach the ball and connect.
(A) How your body looks as you’re about to connect with the ball. Knees bent, where your arms are, leaning back or forward depending on the situation, toes up or down…
Once your form/mechanics is right, then we can work on the approach.
“Players need good teachers as coaches, not just told to do cone drills.”
3 things players get wrong about soccer mechanics
Most of the select players that first come to me are from the Dallas/Fort Worth (North Texas) which is a soccer hotbed and they still don’t know what mechanics are.
These are kids who have paid coaches who coach for a living and have licenses. Or some of them do anyway.
When talking about soccer with them and what I am going to help them with I mention mechanics.
“What are mechanics in soccer terms?” players say: 1) Skills, 2) Technique or 3) The people who work on cars:) Then there are most who look embarrassed and know nothing…
It’s not the Coaches Fault Necessarily because you have to understand that coaches have SO MUCH to Teach in such a short amount of time. This is why players who get extra specialized training improve faster.
Top club players are not learning mechanics
There’s a big advantage for players learning proper form…
When it comes to dribbling, passing, 1st touch and shooting – it has to be taught the right way.
Example: What part of the foot and ball to connect.
A coach is really a teacher… Meaning, you should be teaching, not just putting kids through drills.
I personally am able to help kids with soccer so much better than a team coach because I can teach Faster with More info due to being a 1on1 skills instructor.
Although, in my large camps I still teach form, so really there are no excuses when it comes to education.
The players in high school should know this stuff, but they don’t… This problem will remain the same for 99% of soccer parents and players.
The last 5 years I have had players win the HS 6-A State Championship… Watch video of State Champs saying “Thanks Jeremie – Go GFT”
I’m telling you, even the top players with good coaches still don’t learn mechanics…
What coaches need to do better
Coaches, We have to do a better job educating these players! Teach them the skills and teach them soccer terminology along with so much more.
Here’s what I mean – These 3 little tips will make a coach/trainer stand out more than the rest.
3 things most coaches don’t teach [No matter qualification].
- What Mechanics are and why it matters
- What exact part of the foot to use when dribbling, trapping, passing or shooting and why. Don’t just tell them the inside of the foot, show them what part of the inside of the foot. They will smile because they love to get that detailed knowledge.
- What part of the ball to make contact with. Example if you want the ball to go up high you want to connect under the “equator” of the ball and if you want to keep the ball down on a volley you connect on the equator or just above it. This is getting it on top of the ball. Then I go into detail and tell them that on top of the ball is not literally the very top but just above the equator. If you don’t know what I mean by the equator I mean the line that goes across the middle of the ball. Just like the Globe right;) Hey, I have had soccer people/coaches as me “what do you mean by that? I have never heard it like that… I like it.”
Dribbling vs footskill/footwork
- Outside of the foot keeping your foot flat compared to toe pointed down
- Outside of the foot using more of the laces {Bad mechanics would be to have your laces showing up instead of at an angle}
- Top of the laces
- Inside of the laces
- Inside of the foot
- Heel
- Toe
- Sole/Bottom
Footskills / Footwork:
Footwork and Footskills is usually mean more stationary, but having a lot of the same touches.
Both are great to build coordination with the ball and love for the ball.
Soccer compared to other Sports
Baseball players and coaches know what mechanics are no doubt! They work tons on hitting form and throwing. It’s all about reps!
Basketball coaches teach about form when passing, dribbling and shooting. Form is big in basketball, just look at how bad Shaq was at free-throws. I like Shaq – the greatest big man ever to play the game, but he should have practiced his free throws more:)
Tennis I know nothing about but that I played it for fun a few times and I sucked. It’s so hard and you can tell it’s all about practice, reps, form, mechanics.
Lacrosse I echo tennis:)
My concern in soccer is that youth players don’t even know what mechanics are! Drives me crazy. In addition, even when kids learn it – they need to be reminded!
To be great, players need to train more on their own!
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