Before we cover this technique ,it is advisable to teach your players all the previous techniques I’ve covered in this series. This kicking style, known as the “outside of the instep”, utilises a big surface area of the foot. Due to the large surface area used in this kick, it is ideal when passing and shooting.

It can be used for short, medium range passing and shooting. It’s ideal for free kicks when the shooter needs to bend the ball around a defensive wall and is a great weapon when the kicker adds enough force to create a big swerve on the ball. Everyone remembers the goal Roberto Carlos scored against France.

During the execution of this kick the foot assumes an unnatural position with the toes turning/ pointing inwards. This kick is very deceptive if used correctly and can outwit the best of goal keepers. The leg seems to swing one way but as we make contact with th ball, it slices and spins the ball in the opposite direction. If we want to hit the ball hard and without swerve, the run up should be at a slight angle, to compensate for the angled foot. To create the biggest swerve or curve possible the ball should be attacked straight on in the same direction.

Outside Of The Instep- Exercises.

Young children and beginners often find it difficult to “sense” exactly which part of the foot should make contact with the ball and on which side. Through normal fear of injury by kicking the ground, beginners will not flex their foot downwards. So if your a youth coach or parent, it is advisable to teach this style on a suspended ball first.

• Hold the ball in front of the kicking leg, slightly to the side, then drop it and with the foot turned inwards and firmly pointing downwards, try and make contact with the ball before it hits the ground.
• Same exercise as the one above, but take a few steps before dropping and kicking the ball.
• Drop the ball from the height of the chest and kick it after one bounce.
• A partner opposite throws a ball in a gentle curve and kicks it back to him, after one bounce.
• Similar to the first exercise, but kick the ball the moment it hits the ground.
• Throw the ball up high and kick it after the 2nd bounce, the moment it reaches the ground.
• Kick a stationary ball after a short run up.
• Kick a ball that is rolled from the opposite direction andfrom behind.
• Kick the ball thrown from the side first after one bounce, then on the volley.

When kicking the soccer ball using the full instep method, the area of the foot used is the front or upper part of the foot between the base of the toes and the curvature of the ankle. This area or zone is found where your bootlaces are. Kicks with the full instep are the most effective, giving the kicker the most distance and the most power. The most common usage for this kick is a defensive clearance or a shot at goal.

This kick generates the most power and distance because the run up, follow through and the swing of the foot are all in the one direction. All the forces produced by the kicker are in the same direction and help compound the forces into one big kick. The ball must be kicked in the middle to avoid the ball swinging or swerving. Whilst this kicking style creates the most power, it is quite difficult to master because the kicker is working with a small surface area of the foot and needs to kick the ball dead centre to avoid deviation.

The bio mechanics of this kick involves the foot being pushed strongly downwards with the toes coming close to the ground. For young children this technique can be daunting because they fear kicking the ground and hurting themselves. This technique should be taught after the easier techniques are mastered first.

A clear disadvantage of this kick is that it can be used only when the ball is travelling towards you. It is extremely difficult to kick with the full Instep a ball that is coming towards you from the side. However, the distance that can be gained from the full Instep and the power produced, makes this kick one of the most important tools any soccer player can have.

Strangely enough, the technique of this kick is the simplest of them all. The run up starts 6-7 metres behind the ball in direct line with it and with our target. The non-kicking foot is positioned 10 -15cm to the side of the ball and in that instance the kicking foot goes into a back swing, rather forcefully. The knee is bent and the leg, on impact, snaps suddenly upwards while the foot itself is in a gentle backward arch.

Full Instep Exercises.

Warning: To avoid injuries, it is advisable to start coaching this kick with a ball suspended from a string as the kicking foot can be “caught” in the ground.

• Kick a ball suspended or held on a string repeatedly with the full Instep. This will give the players the confidence using the Instep without the fear of them hitting the ground.
• Another way to practice this kick is to drop a ball and kick it after the first bounce.
• Get a partner or a team mate to throw the ball from about 5 metres away and you practice kicking the ball using this motion. Firstly in a stationary position, then after a short run up.
• While in a stationary position, drop the ball and hit it the moment it reaches the ground. This is usually called a drop kick, but its a great way to learn the Full Instep kick.

Movement of the Full Instep-Technique

• Approach the ball straight on and in the direction you intend to kick the ball. The last step before kicking is longer to allow time for a back swing and correct positioning of the ball. The arms are spread out for balancing the body.
• The toes are pushed firmly back.
• The foot straight down to form a flat, rigid kicking surface.
• Hit the ball dead centre with the knees over the ball to keep it low or behind to put it in the air.
• The joints are tight on impact.
• The foot follows the ball straight through and the knee straightens out.

Remember, various ball skills can be learned, improved and polished if the young player has some basic aptitude and plenty of ambition. Equally important, the coach or parents must be patient and offer plenty of encouragement.

You can be a tall ,short, slow , fast or overweight player, but all these characteristics can be absorbed if you can accurately kick a soccer ball. But if you cannot kick the ball where you want to with a high degree of accuracy, then soccer is not the game for you.

The art of kicking a soccer ball is the essence of Soccer. A soccer player who has a poor kicking style is like a musician that is tone deaf or a painter that is color blind.. A speedy player is useless if he cannot kick the ball accurately, as the ball will always travel faster than the player. As all good coaches instruct, “let the ball do the running.” But How?

The first important pre-requisite of kicking is accuracy. Accuracy can only be developed through long, hard training sessions that continually concentrate on the motion of kicking. Like they say, “practice makes perfect.” The speed of the ball can be controlled by your foot movement and the speed of your run up to the ball. Also the size of your leg swing and the quality of the ball play a major role in the distance the ball will travel.

The anatomy of the foot allows the ball to be kicked in several different ways producing a variety of results. The first technique we are going to investigate is the “Instep” or kicking with the inside of the foot.

Inside of the Foot-Instep.

This is the most used technique and can be executed with or without a run up. The majority of passes during a soccer match are the result of the instep pass. The large surface area of the instep virtually guarantees a reasonable level of accuracy. The instep region stretches from the ankle bone to the base of the big toe. Due to the large surface area, alot of power cannot be generated using this technique and this technique is primarily used for passing at short to medium ranges.

Just like in golf, the swing of the leg is important. The nature of the instep does not allow greater power or distance to be created with a longer run up. When passing, place the non-kicking foot to the side of the ball allowing a free, almost rhythmic swing of the kicking leg. As you pass the ball, your kicking leg will be turned outward from the hip, contacting the ball at 90 degrees, with the sole parallel to the ground. Also the opposite knee is slightly bent when going through the motion.

The back swing of the kicking leg should not be too big or exaggerated, while the body leans slightly forward and the eyes are kept always on the ball. At the point of impact, the knee and the ankle joints are straightened to add power. The final motion should be positive and forceful but should be more like a push rather than a hit.