How to Kick a Soccer Ball

Co-authored by Bobby Warshaw

Last Updated: December 17, 2024 Fact Checked

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Do you want to kick a football (also known as a soccer ball) without embarrassing yourself? Better yet, do you want to get to the point where you can start kicking the ball with the best of them, like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or Pele? There are a lot of different ways to kick a football, and each technique involves its own set of rules. Start with the basics, then move on to advanced techniques.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Passing the Ball

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1
Lock your ankle. Locking your ankle ensures that your foot isn't flimsy and doesn't move at all when it contacts the ball. The foot needs to control how the ball moves. For an inside of the foot pass, the toes should point up to lock the ankle. For a shot, on the other hand, the toes should point down to lock the ankle.^{[1]
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- The only way to achieve no spin is to lock your ankle. If the foot is flimsy, the ball will make equally flimsy movements and motions.
2
Pass the ball with the inside of the shoe. Never pass on your toe. Soccer players pass using the inside of the foot because it uses a wider surface area and makes for the most accurate kick.
- The downside to this kick is that you don't get as much power out of it. Still, it is definitely the most accurate way to pass.
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Turn your planter foot (the foot you are not using to kick) so that the inside of your shoe is facing the ball. Remember, your planter foot will point to where the ball ends up. If you want to kick the ball straight ahead, plant that foot facing straight ahead.^{[2]
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4
Kick a pass on the ground. Follow through with your foot close to the ground. For short passes and passes on the ground, you only need to follow through a few feet. Don't lift your foot far off the ground.^{[3]
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- Notice the spin on the ball. An inside of the foot pass should have end over end spin. If the ball is spinning outside in, you need to lock your ankle, or you might have moved your passing leg in the right trajectory.
5
Kick a pass in the air. Lean your body back and follow through with your foot in the air. This time, extend your foot fully, and follow through so that your foot ends up several feet in the air. Make sure that if you're passing in the air, you keep your foot closer to the ground than you would for a ground pass so that the ball will go into the air.^{[4]
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- Again, notice the spin on the ball. Just like a pass on the ground, a pass in the air should have end over end spin. If the ball is spinning outside in, make sure you're locking your ankle and watching your passing leg.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Shooting the Ball

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Do you ever watch soccer players take a corner kick or penalty kick? Soccer players line up only a few steps behind the ball. You don't need to get a running start from 15 feet (4.6 m) away to strike the ball well. In fact, getting a 15 foot (4.6 m) running start will probably keep you from hitting the ball well.^{[5]
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This keeps your foot stable so that it doesn't move when it contacts the ball. The foot needs to control how the ball moves, rather than the ball moving the foot. If you're trying to achieve a no-spin shot, the only way you'll be able to is by locking your ankle. If the foot is flimsy, the ball will make equally flimsy movements and motions.^{[6]
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Shoot the ball using the top of your foot, on the laces. Never use your toe to kick the ball. Toe-kicking the ball makes it impossible to control where you want to put it. And accuracy is the most important thing you need when shooting the ball.^{[7]
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4
Position your planter foot. Your planter foot is the foot you're not kicking with, the foot that you plant next to the ball. It should be pointed in the direction you want the ball to go. You should also bend your foot and kick the ball with your toe pointed down at the ground. There's a sweet spot on your foot, halfway up your laces, that you should try to use to drive the ball every time.
- Don't try to kick the ball too hard, and remember to keep your eyes on the ball the whole time.
5
Follow through on your kick. Make sure your toe is pointed toward the ground. The power of your kick might send both of your feet off the ground as you shoot. Bring your leg back to generate force. You'll get speed and power.
- If you want to kick a long way, jump at the end while kicking the ball. This will give it your kick even more force.
6
Understand how your lean affects the shot. Remember that the farther you lean back as you kick, the higher the ball will get. If your body is straight (vertical) when you kick, you should get a shot that's low to the ground or mid-height.
- If done correctly, the ball should have no spin once you've kicked it, like a knuckleball shot. If it's spinning outside in, you might have moved your passing leg in the right trajectory or didn't lock your ankle.
Lionel Messi, Professional Soccer Player

Push your game, experiment, and learn new things. "The day you think there is no improvements to be made is a sad one for any player."
7
Land on your shooting foot. You should jump and leap through the ball as you strike it. Keep your head down. Your knee should be above the ball while you keep your hips pointed in the direction you want the ball to go.^{[8]
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- This approach is used to gain more power behind the ball.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Trying Advanced Techniques

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To hook the ball, hit it on the inside of your foot, but slightly turn your foot forward as you kick the ball. Your foot should be at a 45 degree angle when you follow through.
To slice the ball, hit it on the outside of your foot, with your foot trailing away from the ball as you strike it. This time, your foot should be at a 45 degree angle facing the other way (compared to a hook) when you follow through.
Chip the ball. In order to chip the ball, bring your foot down onto the ball and don't follow through that much (if at all). You want to strike the ball right under the tip of your shoe, without using your toe.^{[9]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Practicing Your Form

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1
Kick the ball while sitting down. Lightly kick the ball out of your hands with the top of one foot. Lock your ankles. When your foot connects with the ball, the ball should connect with the "laces" part of your foot, or where the laces would be if you were wearing cleats. The ball should only go up a couple feet, with little or no spin.
- Try connecting with your dominant foot first, and then alternate to your non-dominant foot. Skilled soccer players can kick the ball just as well with their non-dominant foot as they can with their dominant one.
2
Practice your kick standing up. Now that you've practiced kicking while sitting down, it's time to practice while standing up. Again, try to kick the ball up only a couple feet, with little spin.
- Stand up and do the same thing. Drop the ball over your foot and kick up gently. Practice your coordination here.
- Again, look for no spin in the ball when you kick it up.

Form and Exercises for Soccer

Basic Form for Kicking a Soccer Ball

Exercises to Build Leg Strength for Soccer

Community Q&A

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Question

I can't get height on the ball! What should I do?

Community Answer

Try hitting the ball toward the bottom. The lower you kick on the ball, the higher the elevation tends to be.

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I did all the practices but I still can't juggle the ball. Do you have any other suggestions?

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Practice makes perfect. You can't expect to do it perfectly in just a few days. Lots of people you see doing this tend to have spent a long time working on it. If you apply yourself and do your best, it's likely that you will improve. Doing it once, twice or even ten times won't make you an expert ball juggler, so keep at it until you can.

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What part of the foot is the best to kick a goal with?

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For mid-long ranges, use the laces as you can achieve more power on the ball. But, it can also be used inside the box but for close range and mid range. If you're good enough, use the inside of your foot as you have a lot more control about where you want the ball to go but be careful -- if you don't get the technique right, you can either curl the ball too much or take it over the bar.

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Tips

Never kick with your toe. You will break your foot, deflate the ball, and flop your kick.

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Helpful 12 Not Helpful 3
Make sure your ball is pumped up to the ball's recommended pressure. An under-inflated or over-inflated ball is difficult to kick.

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Helpful 12 Not Helpful 3
If you want lift on the ball so it goes through the air, try to get your foot under the ball more and lean back a little while kicking.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

You also could kick better if you have control over the ball. Try to juggle the ball. It's not mandatory, but it helps.
Your follow-through must be in a rhythm. Otherwise the shoot will be improper.
Always concentrate. Focus on the correct technique with every step.
Jump before you hit the ball. This will give you amazing accuracy!
When kicking the ball, you shouldn't kick with your toe.

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Warnings

Don't kick with your toe. This will create an erratic pass or shot and could injure your foot.

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Wear cleats to give you good traction. This could prevent you from slipping after kicking the ball.

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