As a youngster my coaches showed us different ways to kick a soccer ball. I remember my first select coach took me to the side after practice. He showed me how to chip. This was so hard at first. It was actually frustrating and embarrassing. I felt for a few minutes it might never come. After weeks & months of practice you’ll start to pick it up. Then I remember the next season I grew taller and my foot grew longer. I had a size 12 shoe at age 12. All of a sudden I couldn’t chip the ball or do several other things very well. I was clumsy for a year or so due to the sudden growth. It’s important to learn how to kick a soccer ball properly, know it takes time and keep practicing.
How to Kick a Soccer Ball Properly
Table of Contents
- Proper mechanics matter more than power
- Kick a soccer ball with the laces
- Getting both feet off the ground
- Growth spurts and technique
- What players think before kicking
- Bending the soccer ball with the inside
- Bending with the outside of the foot
- Chipping the soccer ball
- Inside push pass technique
- How to get into position to shoot
- Warm up before shooting
Proper mechanics matter more than power
Before you go out and start using all these tips to kick the soccer ball harder, make sure you are hitting it the right way.
More important than just kicking a ball is how we do it.
Your opposite arm needs to be out away from your body, with both knees bent.
If you’re kicking with your right foot, your left arm should come out away from your body.
You should be leaning a little bit to the left. Leaning allows balance and gives your striking foot a better angle.
Kick a soccer ball with the laces for backspin
Where you plant depends on if you’re bending the ball or striking with the laces.
If using the laces, the plant foot needs to be placed correctly — not too close and not too far away.
Plant foot positioning, balance, and body angle matter more than simply trying to kick the ball harder.
For example when bending the ball, the plant foot is usually closer to the ball.
Kick a Soccer Ball with the Laces for Power
Besides the push pass, striking with the laces is one of the first techniques coaches want players to learn.
When striking with the top of the foot (laces) you want the ball to travel straight.
Point your hips, plant foot, and shoulders toward the target.
You also need both knees slightly bent.
The more your plant leg bends, the easier it is to get under the ball and lift it.
Below I’m working with Sydney, a University of Texas Longhorns player who has trained with me since she was 9 years old.
Notice how she gets both feet off the ground and lands on her shooting foot.
This is not the only way to strike the ball, but it is an important technique to practice.
After striking the ball, keep your hips and shoulders facing the target.
Engaging the core muscles helps generate more power without overworking the legs.
Getting Both Feet Off the Ground
One of the most powerful techniques in soccer is learning when to get both feet off the ground during the strike.
This usually happens when you are running or dribbling forward before striking the ball.
Momentum allows your entire body weight to move through the ball, which increases power.
However, if you are stationary, it may not make sense to try to jump through the strike.
Techniques like bending the ball with the inside of the foot often keep one foot planted.
Growth Spurts Can Mess with Your Technique
Sudden growth spurts can temporarily affect coordination.
A small change in leg length or foot size can disrupt muscle memory and mechanics.
Players often need to relearn techniques after rapid growth periods.
Fortunately, relearning usually happens faster because the fundamentals were learned before.
What Most Players Are Thinking Before the Kick
After years of teaching private lessons, I often ask players ages 11-15 what they are thinking before striking the ball.
Many answer:
“I don’t know… I’m just going to hit it.”
Soccer technique requires intention.
If players don’t practice outside of team sessions, they will become players who simply “kick the ball” instead of understanding how to strike it properly.
Bending the Soccer Ball with the Inside of the Foot
Bending the ball can generate just as much power as striking with the laces.
Most youth players—even at high school level—do not practice this enough.
As a youth, my coach Alvin Alexander introduced this technique to us during training.
Players who improved the most were the ones practicing in their backyard or local park.
When learning to bend the ball, focus on technique rather than power.
Bending the Ball with the Outside of the Foot
Outside-foot bending can create unpredictable movement.
Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos made this famous with one of the greatest free kicks ever scored.
If you search his free kick against Italy, you will see the ball curve dramatically before entering the goal.
Learn more about bending the ball here.
Chipping the Soccer Ball
Chipping is one of the hardest techniques in soccer.
Even high school and college players sometimes struggle with it.
Learning to chip properly requires patience and repetition.
Learn how to chip the ball here.
Inside Push Pass Technique
For the push pass, strike the ball with the inside of the foot where the bone near the big toe forms a natural striking surface.
This creates the crisp contact needed for accurate passing.
After contact, continue following through toward the target.
How to Get into Position to Shoot
Two important elements help players get into shooting positions:
- Strong ball control
- Smart movement without the ball
Forwards should occasionally move behind defenders—even briefly offside—to disrupt defensive positioning.
This forces defenders to constantly track your movement.
Learn more about getting open here.
Warm Up Before Striking the Ball
Many players make the mistake of shooting before warming up properly.
This can strain the hips, quads, knees, and lower back.
Even as a retired professional player, I still feel discomfort if I strike too many balls without warming up.
FAQ: How to Kick a Soccer Ball Properly
What is the proper way to kick a soccer ball?
The proper way to kick a soccer ball starts with correct body mechanics. Your plant foot should be beside the ball, your opposite arm should extend outward for balance, and your knees should remain slightly bent. Striking the ball with the correct part of the foot and following through toward your target improves both power and accuracy.
What part of the foot should you use to kick a soccer ball?
Different techniques require different parts of the foot. The inside of the foot is best for accurate passes, the laces (top of the foot) generate power for shooting, and the outside of the foot can create spin or deception in tight situations.
How do you kick a soccer ball harder?
Power comes from proper technique and body mechanics rather than simply swinging your leg harder. Striking the ball with the laces, leaning slightly over the ball, planting your foot correctly, and transferring body weight through the shot can significantly increase power.
Why do soccer players sometimes get both feet off the ground when shooting?
When players are moving forward and strike through the ball with strong momentum, their body weight carries forward during the follow-through. This can cause both feet to briefly leave the ground, allowing more force to transfer into the ball.
Why do players struggle with ball striking during growth spurts?
Growth spurts can temporarily affect coordination, balance, and muscle memory. When a player suddenly grows taller or their feet grow larger, their mechanics change slightly. It can take time for the body to adjust and relearn consistent striking technique.
How do you bend a soccer ball?
To bend the ball, players strike the side of the ball with the inside or outside of the foot while following through across the body. The contact point and spin applied create curve in the air. This technique is commonly used on free kicks and crosses.
Why is chipping the ball difficult for many players?
Chipping requires precise contact underneath the ball while controlling the swing of the leg. If the contact point is slightly off, the ball may travel too high, too low, or without enough lift. Consistent repetition is necessary to develop the proper touch.
How often should players practice kicking technique?
Players should practice striking techniques regularly outside of team training sessions. Even elite players continue working on shooting, passing, and ball striking fundamentals throughout their careers to maintain consistency and accuracy.
Final Reminder for Players
Just like kids forget to turn off lights in their room, players forget small technical details.
Parents and coaches should continue reminding them of the fundamentals.
Players must also remind themselves and practice regularly.
Don’t only work on what you’re already good at. Work on all ways of kicking a soccer ball.
Enjoy the process and keep improving.