![]() Demonstrate “what not to do” by not locking the ankle and flopping the foot around. Clearly demonstrate swinging the leg in the kicking motion that the ankle stays locked during the entire swing. ![]() (Some coaches have found that there may be confusion among young players between the “inside” of the foot and the “instep.” They have had success by referring to the instep as the “top” of the foot and the instep drive as the “laces kick.” As soon as the players age out of this confusion, however, the proper term needs to be used.)įoot down and ankle locked, toes curled, position: Show the foot extended, with the ankle locked, from the front, side, and back. ![]() Indicate that it is the part of the foot “covered by the shoelaces.” State specifically that the name for this part of the foot is the “instep.” Have the players physically touch their own insteps, first on the right foot and then on the left foot. Identify the instep: Show the instep to the players by physically touching the top of the foot. The path of the ball should be a nice straight line. It should then be clearly shown that the ball is not being kicked with the tip of the shoe, or being “toed,” by actually demonstrating toe-kicking the ball from the side and explaining that this is “what not to do.” It should further be shown that proper balance will allow the kicking foot to swing freely “through the ball” by kicking the ball, following-through, and not putting the kicking foot back on the ground immediately. If possible, it is suggested that coaches run through this entire progression with the parents to teach them first, before providing instruction to the children.)ĭemonstration of the ultimate result: Announce that the name of the skill is the “Instep Drive” or the “Instep Kick.” Show a proper kick of a ball, in slow motion, from three directions, front, side and back, as seen by the observers. (When teaching very young players how to kick a soccer ball, the help of the parents is extremely beneficial. Foot down and ankle locked, toes curled, position.The following learning progression is recommended for coaches teaching how to kick a soccer ball with the instep drive: (This is the same kick used by “place kickers” in American football.) Proper balance, a solid base to the non-kicking foot, and follow-through are essential. Power is derived for the kick from the flexion and then the rapid extension of the upper leg at the hip and the lower leg at the knee. This part of the foot is called the “instep.” As the soccer ball is struck at the instep, the foot becomes an extension of the leg, pulled down by the calf muscle, causing the ankle to be “locked.” (This is similar to tennis, where the racket becomes an extension of the arm, with the wrist locked at the moment the ball is contacted.) At the same time, the toes are curled under. Soccer players do not “toe” the ball for this main kick of soccer, but use the top part of the foot covered by the shoelaces. Accordingly, the basic concepts of the instep drive must be well understood by coaches and taught properly to beginning players. Further, mastery of the instep drive forms the basis for any number of other kicks, including shooting, goal kicks, corner kicks, chips, long passes, clearances, volleys, half-volleys and more. The instep drive uses the quadriceps muscles of the thigh to provide the most powerful kick available in the game, forcing the top of the foot (instep) to propel (drive) the soccer ball forward. Tape may be used to demonstrate the location of the insteps to youth soccer players in order to teach the Instep Drive.
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