How to Pass the Soccer Ball

I think many of our girls really need to spend some time (it takes time to learn some things) practicing the most fundamental skill in soccer, kicking the ball. It really just takes practice, practice, practice. If you can spend some time with them kicking it back and forth or setup a kicking wall, I think you could see some significant improvements in a short period of time. There are several different kinds of kicks. Here are some key points to making a successful passing kick. A good pass will roll along the ground with some top-spin as opposed to popping-up in the air and bouncing toward the target.

Here are the key points:

• She should start with a little pass to herself; just a light touch on the ball to get it out in front of her. (She should use a similar touch when receiving a pass; keep the ball and her feet moving.)
  
• She should pick her target.
• She should draw an imaginary line from the target through the center of the ball.
• She then looks at the little spot on the back of the ball where she will kick it.
  
• Her left foot should plant beside the ball (not behind it). If the ball is rolling away from her, she'll need to aim to put her left foot a little in front of the ball.
  
• Her left toe should point where she wants the ball to go.
  
• She should drive her right foot through the center of the ball using the inside part of her foot with her ankle locked and her toe up (to make the ball roll on the ground).
  
• Her follow-through should go toward their target. She should maintain good balance through entire the kick.
  

And you thought kicking the ball was simple....