| How many times have you heard it shouted from | | | | get the feeling of LOADING their leg prior to |
| the soccer coach's and soccer parents? "Don't | | | | starting the kick. One of the simplest |
| kick with your toe, use your laces." Sounds | | | | movements yet least understood movements in |
| like a simple request, but most people | | | | soccer today is the Soccer Hop. When we show |
| working with youth soccer players find this | | | | it to professional soccer players, they are |
| to be a major stumbling point. | | | | simply amazed. They find themselves "soccer |
| | | | hopping" around their living room. |
| Don't feel bad if you have a soccer player or | | | | |
| soccer team that is struggling with the | | | | Sadly we often hear many in the youth soccer |
| basics of kicking a soccer ball or passing. | | | | community say, "kids learn soccer by playing |
| I have had the pleasure of working with some | | | | the game". I think this is one of the most |
| of the greatest youth coaches that hold a C - | | | | detrimental phrases in youth soccer today. |
| A certification and they struggle with the | | | | How many golfers (hackers) are 60+ years old |
| same issue. One of the biggest problems with | | | | and still hitting a bad slice? They have over |
| teaching the correct soccer kick form is that | | | | 8000 hours of "playing time" yet haven't |
| people see this as one simple issue. In our | | | | learned a thing. On the reverse side, why is |
| research we found that there are several | | | | it that the top golfers in the world spend |
| issues that need to be dealt with. | | | | hours upon hours at the driving range |
| | | | refining their skills when they are already |
| If you start as we did on the Blast The Ball | | | | at the top of their sport? |
| video, you start with the "evolution of the | | | | |
| soccer kick". You MUST learn WHY youth soccer | | | | They understand like we in youth soccer need |
| players kick with their toe before you can | | | | to understand this important point. You |
| correct it. Simply telling them to switch to | | | | learn the GAME of soccer by playing the game. |
| a "lace kick" will not only confuse them and | | | | It creates overall awareness, creativity and |
| frustrate them, but may also cause serious | | | | teamwork. |
| physical injury. | | | | |
| | | | You learn the needed SKILLS to play the game |
| Pointing the toe DOWN will cause the toe to | | | | by programming muscle memory and correct |
| impact the ground and cause a horrible strain | | | | swing (kicking) thoughts until they become |
| to the top of the foot. This injury will last | | | | instinctive. |
| for several days, but more importantly the | | | | |
| psychological impact will last for months. | | | | One of the biggest mistakes I see in youth |
| They will fear performing this kick because | | | | soccer coaching today is the lack of a |
| they know, "it hurts". | | | | "step-by-step system" or understanding to |
| | | | teach players basic kicking skills. When we |
| Learning how to "shorten the leg" through a V | | | | created we were dedicated to making it as |
| swing and starting with an angle kick is the | | | | thorough as possible. We wanted every soccer |
| first step. This allows the soccer player to | | | | player, soccer coach and soccer parent to |
| freely move their foot through the ball | | | | understand every part of kicking form and |
| without fear of "hitting the ground". Yes | | | | ball flight. |
| this takes time and must be done at a slow | | | | |
| pace, but after they learn this method it | | | | Remember that all great athletes work on |
| will be automatic and become a muscle memory. | | | | refining individual movements. They then take |
| | | | those movements to their sport so they can be |
| The next step is to make sure that players | | | | at the top of their game. |