Soccer Drills – Page 41

How to teach dribbling

Dribbling is, perhaps, the most important skill a player can have or work on. Your children will put opposition players out of the game by dribbling past them.

They will also demoralise the opposition and make themselves feel good.

And by dribbling they’re showing that they’re not afraid of being tackled.

That said, there are occasions when it is wrong to dribble.

Why? Because the most skilful dribbler cannot always beat the opposition.

So, if they are dribbling in the attacking third, a 90% success rate is good and your children will score plenty of goals.

But if they dribble near your goal the same success rate can easily lose the game because every time they lose the ball they will present the opposition with a great chance to score.

The lesson is? Don’t dribble in front of your own goal!

Start your dribbling practice with games that have players repeatedly touching the football. Add pressure as the practice continues by limiting the space and adding defenders. End the practice by having players perform skills in match like conditions.

Two games in particular – Musical Balls and Blob Tag – are also great warm ups to begin a dribbling session. Your kids will love playing them!

Some basic dribbling moves

The Stop and Go.

This is simply a change of pace. You jog slowly with the ball, usually when a defender is along side of you, and then burst past the defender. The key is a change of pace with the ball.

You can also put the sole of your foot on top of the ball when stopping the ball and then push it forward with your instep when you break off on the dribble again to escape the defender.

The Cut Back.

With the inside of the foot you cut the ball back behind your body. Using your right foot to cut the ball back you plant your left foot to the side of the ball and then bring your right foot up to cut the ball back.

You can often tie this in with a fake shot. Dribbling away from a defender into space you fake a pass or shot and then chop the ball back with the inside of the foot you used to fake the pass or the shot.

The Fake Shot.

Simply cocking the leg back like you are going to shoot can buy you time.

The Step over.

You take your right foot over the ball and dribble away with your left. Also often called the scissors.

Inside Outside.

You kind of fake like your going inside and then rush to the outside. With the inside of your foot on the ball you carry the ball a little bit to the inside and then when you think the defender is off balance or not ready, you make a dash for the outside and with more space to cross the ball, or make a pass, or shoot.

Outside Inside.

This time use the outside of your feet, this is usually more difficult because you don’t have as much control with the outside of your feet, in terms of surface area, so make the dragging of the ball to the outside a little shorter in distance. Same as above but reverse.

Dropping Your Shoulder.

Dribbling slowly at a defender you feint with the shoulder, kind of ducking your shoulder down a little bit one way and take off the other.

Sole of the foot turn.

Pull the ball back with the bottom of your shoe and burst away with a change of speed.

Scoop.

Life the ball over the defender’s foot. This is usually done while feinting one way and then scooping the ball the other way just over the defender’s planted foot.

After you lift the ball over the defenders foot make sure to take off with a burst of speed. Often, you want to scoop or lift the ball over the defenders foot and to your other foot so your body will be between you and the defender after you make the move. So you are dribbling with your right foot and scoop the ball over the defenders foot and to your left foot or the other way around. Also, this move is also usually done when you are in an almost standing position and the defender is rushing at you or you’re suckering the defender in and then lifting the ball over their foot as they came in towards you to fast and you then slip away.

The Lean.

Leaning to one side, as if you are going to dart that way and then when the defender leans that way take off in the opposite direction.

Sucker them.

Entice the defender to try to go for the ball, exposing the ball as if the defender can steal it and when he or she makes a move to go for the ball you cut the ball away and take off. Again, change of pace is the key when beating a defender on the dribble.

How to teach block tackling

In soccer, the term “tackling” is used to describe any effort to steal the soccer ball or knock it out. Thus, in soccer, a tackle can be on the ground (a slide tackle) or it also can be done upright, either by knocking the soccer ball out as you run along one side of the attacker or done from the front by blocking him from dribbling the soccer ball forward – a block tackle.

What to tell your children about block tackles

The non-kicking foot should be placed alongside the ball (approximately 10″ to the side). The ankle joint of the tackling foot must be firm and locked. The knees should be bent to lower the centre of gravity of the player. This will produce a compact and more powerful shape.

The head and upper body should be over the ball. The hands should be closed (make a fist). This will tighten the upper body.

Contact is made with the inside of the foot. Contact on the ball should be made through the horizontal mid-line and centre of the ball. Quality tackling is as much an attitude as it is technique. Players must develop an aggressive attitude towards winning the ball.

Unlike American football, a tackle really is not supposed to bring the opponent crashing to the turf. Indeed, in many cases, the tackle will be judged as a foul if you do so. As a result, your first job as a coach will be to explain the terminology to your players and make the point that the player is tackling the BALL ITSELF and not the opponent.

The Side Block Tackle

When a defender is beaten and is giving chase, the side block tackle is on of the most effect tackles that a defender can use. While a side block tackle and a sliding tackle can both be effective in dispossessing an attacker, I prefer my players to use the block tackle because it requires them to stay on their feet longer. If the side block doesn’t work, then slide the player.

The side block tackle can be broken down into four main stages:

1. The defender must give chase and run hard to get along side the attacker

2. Once along side the attacker, the defender should then turn into the attacker using the nearest foot to the attacker and leaning their body weight to the nearest shoulder to the attacker e.g. a good old shoulder barge.

3. The defender then crouches down adopting a low centre of gravity, pivots on the standing foot next to the attacker

4. Then with the tackling leg, hook the foot around the ball using the instep and complete the hook turn with force striking through the ball.

Quite often the ball will break free from this type of tackle. So its important to stress to your players that they should stay on their feet. At best the ball will break in their favour and they can then instigate a counter attack. At worst the attacker may initially lose control but the ball still breaks their way, in this instance if your player has stayed on their feet they can still give chase. If they are on the floor they can’t!

How to teach basic marking

Ages: 7+: Materials: Cones, balls, bibs: Players: 4+

One of the most important defensive soccer skills which players should learn (even young children) is how to properly mark an opponent so that he does not appear “open” to his teammate. This is a difficult skill for beginning players to learn, because they tend to watch the ball instead of their marks. Furthermore, because it is only necessary to mark your man when your team doesn’t have the ball, younger players can get confused about when to mark and when to get away. As a result, it is necessary to break these skills down into manageable steps, starting with just staying with your man and teaching some tricks on how to do this.

The first basic rules of marking are to be stay within 2-3 feet of your man. Start by putting players in pairs, with one player in each pair as the attacker. It is the job of the attacker to try to get away from his marker, and the job of the marker to stay with his attacker. Do not bother using a ball. Just put the players in a grid and play it like tag. When you blow the whistle, everyone must freeze and any defender who is not within 3 feet of his mark must do a “special exercise”. Pick silly special exercises, like doing a duck walk for 3 steps, quacking “mark, mark, mark”, etc.). Play for several minutes, then switch roles between defenders and attackers. Reinforce the idea that those who are sticking with the opponent are “defenders” and that attackers can go anywhere and should try to lose their marks.

Now, introduce the idea of transition which means the switch from offence to defence when possession is lost. Put bibs on one member of each pair and give them a team name. Also give a team name to the kids without bibs.

Put them back in the grid, and periodically shout out a team name for the kids who are to act as defenders. Require that they find their marks and get within 3 feet of their marks by the count of 2 which requires them to always have a good idea of where their marks are, even when trying to lose them). Once again, use a silly “exercise” for those who do not quickly switch off.

Now, introduce a football and make the team without the ball the defenders. Put small cone goals at the ends of the grid so that each team has a goal to defend. At this point, things will fall apart with new players, as they will start watching the ball and stop watching their marks. Expect this. It is normal. Let them play for 2-3 minutes, and find the kids who have gotten the concept down. These are the kids whom you will name as captains.

Blow your whistle; stop the game; and assign captains for each side. Their jobs are to yell “Rockets, mark” or “Rockets, attack”, depending on whether or not their team has the ball. Always try to have 2 captains for each side, as somebody will get tied up in the excitement and forget to shout instructions.

Play the game again, and watch the transitions. Don’t interfere, just let things sort out for 3-4 minutes. Then, announce a new game, where the entire team has to do a “special exercise” if, when you blow the whistle, they are not marking properly. The use of a team special exercise is important, as you want the entire team to learn to look out for somebody who is not marking his man. This will be crucial in games when, for instance, a defender falls down and it is essential that another player pick up his mark, so get them used to the idea of watching each other.

Let them play for about 1 minute, then blow your whistle. Resume, and blow again when the other side should be marking. Now, play a game where a goal counts for 1 point, and good marking counts for 2 points. Be sure that you give equal chances as you blow your whistle for both sides to get 2 points. At this stage, do not give out any “special exercises” as the loss of the chance for 2 is quite sufficient to get the point across. Additionally, and you don’t want to do anything more to single out the poor kid who messed up.

For younger players, this may be as much as you can handle in one session. However, for older players, you can proceed to the next step, which is learning where to stand in relation to your opponent, assuming that teams are equal in numbers. In general, the safest place for a defender to stand is goal-side AND ball-side of his mark. In the midfield, it is more important to be ball-side than goal-side. When in the penalty box, you normally should be ball-side unless your attacker is considerably faster/quicker in which case you should be goal-side. Inside the goal area, you should always be goal-side if standing still, and ball-side if you are running in towards the goal with your attacker.

By ball-side, we mean that the defender is standing between his mark and the ball, so that the ball cannot “see” the feet of his man. “Ball-side” marking looks like this:

Small Group Work

Put a pair of players in a grid, with one goal at one end, and put another pair in a long narrow grid that runs along one sideline. To score, the team in possession must have passed to a teammate on the sideline, then shot on goal without an interception by the opposing side. The use of the alley forces ball-side marking – and helps to show why it is effective. It also shows the players that, to succeed, they must play to space ahead of or behind the marked teammate and immediately move to accept a quick pass back. In the meantime, once a pass has been made to the outside, it places great urgency upon the inside defender to either intercept the ball before it can come back in or to get between his mark and the goal. Play for about 3-4 minutes, then switch inside and outside players.

Large Group Work

Add another inside player for each team so that they are 2v2 inside, and put a goal at both ends. This is the stage where the players start to learn to balance the defensive principles of Pressure/Cover with the concept of marking. When outside of scoring range, it is more important that the other inside player act as Cover so that, if the Pressure player is beaten, the on-ball attacker does not have a free run at goal. As a result, he will drop off vertically from his man, so that he is goal-side of his mark and also slightly goal-side of the Pressure player. He does this so that he can keep an eye on both. If the Pressure player can bottle up the opponent at the touch line away from the outside support, he will turn his efforts to winning the ball since the opposing inside player should drop back to provide an outlet pass for the beleaguered attacker and also to provide instant cover for his own goal if possession is lost.

However, as the attackers start to come within scoring range, the off-ball inside attacker becomes a much greater threat, so he will close down on him in an effort to be both goal-side and ball-side. He will be sure to choose goal-side if he does not believe that he can stay ball-side on a run towards goal. The outside defender, on the other hand, will generally try to stay ball-side because he knows that the outside player is just a relay person who will try to cross the ball in quickly if he ever gets possession.

After quickly discussing these ways in which marking decisions change as you add a third person, let the players experiment. The game is truly the best teacher for these concepts, as the kids will learn much more quickly from trial and error than by any extended lecture. So, just stand back and watch for at least 5 minutes. Praise good marking decisions and good interceptions, and overlook the poor decisions. To mark well is a skill that will take many years to develop properly, as there are a number of very complex variables that enter into the equation in a split second. Errors are common and the kids can see for themselves when they make an error so give lots of reassurance and encouragement.

Scrimmage

Add an alley on both sides of the field; put a pair of opponents in each alley; and put the rest in the middle. Require that a team must use one set of alley players before scoring and that goals count double if they use both alleys. Then, sit back and enjoy yourself, as the players go about teaching themselves the reasons why good marking is so important.

How to stop children kicking a soccer ball with their toe

How many times have we heard it shouted from both the coaches and the parents? “Kick with your laces, not your toe.” Sounds like an easy request, but you must understand you are trying to change the evolution of a child. This is why so many struggle with this seemingly simply task.

While many think this is a problem for very young soccer players, 5 – 9 years old, we have seen this problem frequently in the 13 – 16 year olds as well.

Curing the toe kick is often the first step. It really is quite easy to understand if you take the time to study the progression, the cause and the cure. We spent 18 months studying every phase of the soccer kick from 6 year olds all the way to professional players. Once we captured this “evolution” on video and slowed it down, it became quite evident why we kick with toe and the steps to cure it.

First understand how we first start to kick a ball. Very young players really don’t go into a “kicking mode”. They are simply running at the ball and when they think they are close, or their foot makes contact with the ball, they “push” their leg through the shot. They are simply trying to force the leg forward so it moves the ball. During this stage there is no “forethought” to the soccer kick. (This could be called the ‘collision’ stage.) Kicking the ball is simply an afterthought that combines with the running gate of the player.

As players mature they learn that the harder they “push through” the shot, the farther the ball goes. This seems great in their eyes, but it starts a habit that is hard to cure. Some even “push through” so hard they fall onto the ground after a shot.

Next realize another reason for a toe kick. It is the natural foot position. When we run or walk our foot changes position. At the end of our stride our toe is naturally facing down because we have just finished “pushing off” the ball of our foot or toe area. As our foot comes forward in a walking or running stride the toe naturally returns to the forward pointing position. Have someone walk across the floor. Concentrate on their foot position at the end or back of their stride and then watch as it comes forward. The toe naturally starts to swing forward and upward.

Then ask them to walk or jog with their toe pointed down as long as possible. The result is a child or adult “high stepping” across the floor like a Clydesdale horse.

The problem is that this “unnatural position” is really what we are asking them to do when we tell them to kick with their laces.

Here is a little test you can do for yourself. (Only adults are allowed to do this.)

Kick like a toe kicker. Yes, we said kick wrong. Let your foot swing through naturally just like it was a walking or jogging stride. Your foot stays very close to the ground.

Now, WITHOUT CHANGING ANYTHING ELSE, point your toe to the ground and swing your leg through again.

If you did this properly you are now cursing me. You are grabbing your foot because your toe struck the ground as you came through and you severely strained the muscles on the top of your foot. Don’t worry. There will be some minor swelling and you will limp for the next 4 days, but hey, if we ask our kids to do this, why shouldn’t we try it?

So how do we start to teach this “unnatural” movement?

We created Blast The Ball™ video and research program because much of this is hard to describe in writing. We will give it our best shot.

1- Have patience. This unnatural movement or change takes time. You will practice it and it will look good. Then, come game time, the child will revert back to the movement that is instinctive. Eventually the new kick will become a muscle memory or instinctive.

2- Start by having the child step closer to the ball. Most youth players step their plant foot well behind the ball. This causes the ball to be struck on the “upward swing” and naturally kicked by the toe. Having them step next to or even slightly past the ball forces the ball to be further back in the swing circle.

3- Practice loading the leg. We have an entire section devoted to the “soccer hop” on Blast The Ball™. It is the slight hop or large stride just before kicking a soccer ball. Just as in any sport such as baseball, golf, tennis etc, when you are going to come forward to hit a ball, you must first load or have a backswing. The entire leg will come back and with “power shooters” you will notice the load or backswing is so large that the sole of the foot almost touches their “behind”. Now instead of a “push” we are preparing to release and kick.

4- Shorten the kicking leg. No not by surgery, but by maintaining the “V” position of the leg all the way through the swing. When our leg is in the backswing and just starting to come forward, there is a strong “V” position. We want players to maintain this “V” all the way through the shot. Stand up with both feet close together. Raise the kicking hip slightly, and then bend the knee slightly. You must do both. You will notice that if you hold this position you can point your toe down and swing your leg back and forth. Your toe will not hit the ground. While the shape and size of the “V” will change through the kick, it should never totally disappear. (No locking straight leg.)

5- Start with an angle approach. We teach the many different styles of correct kicking. One is the straight kick which has no angle approach or “wrap around” leg swing. With the straight kick, the ball IS struck with the laces. However, the angle kick has an angled approach and the leg will slightly swing across and around to our front. This angle arch also allows the toe to be pointed slightly “outward” requiring less “shorting” of the leg and less chance or the dreaded “toe stub”. When working with young players, the angle kick is taught first.

6- Learn the part of the foot. When we use the angle kick, we really are NOT kicking with the “laces”. We are kicking the ball with the “first metatarsal”. In simple terms that is the bone just above the “knuckle” of the big toe. This is the largest bone in the foot and when the ankle is locked, creates a huge amount of impact force.

7- Learn to strike the ball just left of center. (For right footed kickers.) This applies to the angle kick because we are approaching the ball from an angle. Striking the ball in the center will cause the impact to be more of a “glancing blow” and create a huge amount of side spin.

One of the most important points of working with young players is to start them off in slow motion. A child only wants to do one thing, KICK A BALL HARD. Forcing them to kick slowly and gently is EXTREMELY hard. I recommend you start this exercise against a wall. If you put them 6 feet away from a wall, they will have a fear of the ball bouncing back and hitting them. This will force them to kick softer. Also, if they kick too hard they have to go chase the ball. DO NOT start this process 18 yards out from a soccer goal. Their overpowering instinct to kick it hard into the net will force them to focus on power.

Plan on this process taking 6 – 12 months depending on the child’s age. Have them practice the movements several times a week. Eventually it will become the instinct rather than the unnatural. Have patience and keep practicing.

How to kick a soccer ball (part 1)

I am often asked for advice on how to strike a ball properly, especially to hit the ball over a long distance, or to shoot it really hard.

Here is a progression that I like to do with practically any aged player. I have recently used variations of this with a group of U-10 players as well as with the U-16 National Team.

Being able to drive a ball over distance, so that the ball reaches its destination with pace and accuracy is a skill that is necessary to compete at the higher levels. There is nothing like seeing a ball “crashing” in to the back of the net, or a pass being made to a wide open player that is waiting 50 – 60 yards away from the play.

So, listed below is a progression to follow to teach you the fundamentals of this skill.

Emphasis is placed on getting the proper “surface” of your foot involved in the process… the “laces”. Once a player establishes the proper “feel” for the ball with this part of his or her foot, then the rest is just a matter of practice and developing strength and timing. This comes from hours of work, alone with the ball.

Start way back with the basics….

Take off your shoe and sock. Sit on the floor, with both feet on the floor… knees inside your arms…start by kicking the ball out of your hands (like a punt).

But, just do it lightly so that the ball only goes up about 2 feet or so.

Make sure that your toe is pointed and that you keep your ankle “locked”. Strike the ball with the “laces” part of the foot. If your ball goes up without any spin…or with a little “top” spin… then you are doing it correctly. If the ball comes back towards your face…then try again. Keep doing this over and over…it will develop a good feel for what it is like to hit the ball with your laces. After you have managed that…try hitting the ball twice with the foot. But, make sure that there is still a proper spin…ankle locked…toe pointed.

When you get good control it is time to stand up.

Now, do the same thing… kick the ball out of your hands (like a punt) but have the ball only go up in the air about 6-7 feet high. Look for the ball going up with no spin again. Keep your foot in that good position. Your knee needs to be slightly bent as well. Kick the ball straight up in the air. Again, you are just trying to get a good feel for the ball. The ball’s spin tells you if you are doing it correctly.

Then, try to do it with a bounce between each kick. But, still only have the ball go up about 6-7 feet high. It is important that you do this with control instead of power. This is almost like juggling, but let the ball bounce each time. Then, can you do two touches…(each one going up without backspin) between each bounce?

Now…progress where you are letting the ball bounce on the ground, then kick it to a friend or against some wall. Still with bare feet! Make sure that you strike the ball when it is on the way down. Hit it with your “laces”. Toe pointed, ankle locked. Now, the ball should have “top spin”…and should not go higher than your head. Keep working on this for MANY times. See if you can now work on accuracy and some power. Again, you should be getting a real feel for the ball with your laces.

After you do this…it is time to put your shoes back on and try from the ground again. See if there is any improvement… there should be. You should have a real feel for the ball by now!

One warning…this takes time!!! Some players that I have worked with on this need a whole season to work things out. Practice correctly!!! It is more important to “practice perfectly” than to kill yourself working frantically and too hard. Take your time.

My last suggestion is to watch high level games. Watch how the real good players strike the ball. Watch them, then try to copy them!

How to kick a soccer ball (2)

How to strike the ball

There are two general types of kicks based on the position of the ball, ground kicks and volleys.

Ground kicks
In order to produce a quality kick you’ll need balance and composure. The placement of your supporting foot is just as important as your other, kicking foot. To control the height of your shot or pass, be aware of where your supporting foot is, in relation to the ball. By placing your supporting foot in line with the ball, you will achieve power while keeping your kick low. By placing it slightly behind, you will produce a rising or lofted ball. Your upper body also plays a role when kicking the ball. When you lean back, the ball will rise and if you lean forward your kick remain low and hard.
In order to get the maximum power from a strike, the knee of your kicking leg has to be above or in line with the ball at the exact moment you make contact. Follow-through in a sweeping motion in direction of your target. If you have trouble understanding this concept, try landing on your kicking foot after you strike the ball.

Volleys
When striking the ball in the air, proper balance is essential. Therefore, you need to adapt to the path of the ball by making quick adjustments in your footing. You are ready to swing only after you have positioned yourself at a proper distance from the ball. You should not attempt a volley, if you feel that you are reaching out too far or when the ball is too close to your body for a good swing.
Some situations may require jumping and volleying at the same time. Stay composed and concentrate on timing your leap.

How to practice kicking
The best way to practice your technique is against a keeper (or a friend) who consistently serves the ball back to you. If that is rarely an option, then any regular wall, ledge or flat surface can work as a replacement. Beginners should work on kicking dead balls (meaning they must trap it before kicking) while advanced players can practice striking the ball without settling it first. Many variations and drills available, such as aiming at a target on the wall or dribbling (in random directions) before you kick. Being able to strike the ball from any situation will improve all aspects of your game which include kicking, for example passing, finishing, clearing and so on. In order to learn the proper mechanics, practice with as few interruptions as possible. Also, look at better or more experienced players and study their technique.

A friend can be very useful when you’re working on your volleys. Ask him to throw the ball at your feet and try to hit it back to his hands. Practicing volleys is slightly more of a hassle when you’re alone, but it can be done. Simply toss the ball (or kick it) upwards and strike as it drops down. Stay composed and adjust to it its path. Don’t swing desperately if the ball is out of your reach.

Different methods of striking the ball

Inside of the foot (push pass)

Put your supporting foot about 10 cm to the side of the ball with your toes pointed in direction of your target. With your ankle locked at about 90 degrees, bring your kicking leg back and swing through the equator of the ball. Your kicking ankle must be perpendicular to your supporting foot. Contact the ball with the arch of your foot and follow-through in the direction of your target. When well executed, the ball will roll smoothly rather than bounce or skip along the ground.
push pass

Outside of the foot

When planting your supporting foot next to the ball, your toes have to be directed about 15-30 degrees outward from your target. This will let you drive your other foot straight at the target, hitting the ball with the outside of your laces.
outside of the foot.

Instep drive

Place your supporting foot in line with the ball and toes aimed at your target. Bring your kicking foot back and swing it forward in one swift motion. Don’t pause between retracting and extending your leg. Accelerate your foot through the ball, as if it doesn’t exist. The toes and the ankle of your kicking foot should be stretched and locked. To keep the shot low, meet the ball at the equator or slighly above it. Lean forward and keep your shoulders over the ball. Strike it with the inside of your shoelaces and follow through in the direction of your target.

Inside curve

Position your supporting foot to the side of the ball with toes aimed at your target or slightly to the side of it. Swing forward with your kicking foot and meet the ball with the upper part of your big toe. “Slice” the ball not in the center but low on the outside, so that a spin will be produced. Follow through in the direction of your swing, not directly towards your target.
inside curve pass

Outside curve

If you’re kicking the ball with your right foot put your supporting foot on the left side of the ball or vice versa. The toes of your supporting foot should be aimed at your target or slightly to the side, in the direction of the curve. Bring your kicking foot back and swing forward aiming for the inside part of the ball. Again, if you’re kicking with your left foot, aim for the right side of the ball. Contact the ball with the outside, lower part of your shoelaces. Remember to follow-through.

Chip

Your supporting foot should be planted next to the ball with toes pointed at your target. Quickly thrust your kicking foot back and then forward without moving your thigh too much. Sharply cut the ball from the bottom with the the tip of your toes. This will produce a lofted ball, spinning vertically towards you.

The volley is a kick used when the ball is above ground. In terms of technique, it follows the same principles as the instep drive. Producing a good volley is largely determined by your timing. Concentrate on when to swing rather than where to contact the ball. Don’t try to hit the ball really hard. If you strike it at the right time, it will have enough power and you’ll get more control over its direction. Make small adjustments in your footing so that you are well balanced prior to actually swinging at it.

How to chip a soccer ball

Steps:

1. Understand that a ‘chip’ is when the football travels in a tall arc. Usually a quick kick is used to send the ball up and over a short distance, rather than in a long, soaring flight.

2. Approach the football at a slight angle.

3. Place your non-kicking foot approximately 6 inches to the side of the ball and slightly behind it.

4. Take a back swing with your kicking leg, keeping in mind that a shorter back swing will allow you more control and better placement.

5. Angle your toe down – imagine your foot to be wedgelike – as you make contact with the ball below its centre.

6. Lean your body back as you kick to increase the lift of the ball. The farther you lean back, the greater the ball’s arc.

Tips:

A proper chip should have backspin, which makes it easy for your teammate to control. A ball spinning backward is less likely to run away from the receiver once contact is made.

Use a chip as a shot on goal if you wish. If the goalkeeper has come out to cut down the angle of your shot, chipping the ball over his head is a good technique for scoring a goal.

Be comfortable chipping with both feet, and chipping dead balls as well as moving ones.

Chipping vs. lifting

Chipping a ball is using your foot as a wedge to strike the ball low with the toe of the striking foot contacting the ball low imparting arc and backspin. The knee is locked at impact.

Lifting the ball at rest is accomplished by placing the toes of the striking foot as close as possible to the bottom of the ball, sliding the foot under the ball, and lifting the ball up and out with the instep of the foot. As the ball is lifted up he knee straightens to direct or loft the ball in the desired direction.

Heading – a warning

Heading a ball is one of the few alien skills of soccer. After all, nobody in their right mind would choose to be struck on the head. Yet it can be one of the most spectacular and exciting plays in the game. Any adult field player who has poor heading skills is a weak link in the team.

However, recent medical research has cast doubts on the desirability of repetitive heading practice for players under 12 years of age – particularly with high balls or service from a distance. Some people have even suggested that there is a risk of permanent damage to the spine arising from the compaction effect of heading the ball.

This is not a medical manual and there is no qualified, expert opinion in this area. But I have enough experience in soccer to know that heading skills can be left for intensive development until the next age phase (early teens) – particularly as the skill of heading is something older player can cope with better than a non-discerning youngster. So why take the risks?

But there’s no getting away from the fact that heading the ball is an inevitable part of any soccer match. For this reason it is important to show your children how to head the ball correctly. Just don’t do it too much.