How many times have you heard it yelled from the sidelines? “Kick with you laces, not your toe!”
Well it really isn’t the fault of the player if you understand the evolution of the soccer kick. The problem is that most parents and many coaches don’t realize this is impossible to change without a “process”.
We studied this problem in our research which lasted over two years. This one came pretty quickly. A child doesn’t change anything about their natural walking or running stride when the first start to kick a soccer ball. It is almost like the soccer ball just happens to get in the way of their natural stride.
As we walk or run as humans our toe naturally points forward as it moves forward. Keeping the toe down would cause us to walk or run looking like a Clydesdale horse. Also, when we bring our leg forward there is VERY little clearance between the bottom of the foot and the ground. Pointing the toe down will cause it to hit the ground, often causing serious injury.
A child should first learn to kick with an angle kick.
An angle kick allows the toe to be pointed slightly outward and away from our body. Doing this reduces the need for so much “clearance”. Also, the child must realize that in order to create clearance, they must “shorten the length of their leg”. Not easy for an 8 year to understand. However, as shown in BLAST THE BALL , there are two simple methods to help.
1) Learn the V swing. The V swing is performed by all advanced players in all their kicks. They just don’t realize it. Keeping the knee slightly bent as it swings through, “shortens the leg”.
2) Also, raising the up slightly by lifting at the hip will give good clearance. Leaving the flat on the ground we want the player to point their toe to the ground. However, they must accomplish this by raising that HIP not the leg or knee.
Trying to picture this training in writing is difficult. However, once you see it in action you’ll be amazed at how something so simple can change a soccer player for life.
Hope it will be useful for the Readers...
See you..
( Mike )
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