INSTEP DRIVE TECHNIQUE REINFORCEMENT DRILL
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The following soccer instep drive technique reinforcement drill could be used as a final kicking drill before shooting at the goal. This drill can be applied after the basic power kick steps have been mastered to a reasonable extent. The drill, as described, is appropriate for advanced players from high school to professional.
On a smooth surface (groomed grass, turf, or a floor), two players stand about 25-yards apart with an appropriately-inflated ball. They kick the ball back and forth, one-touch, with the following in mind:
- All appropriate technical methods should be used: ankle locked in the plantar position throughout the leg swing; eye on the ball when contacting the ball with the foot vertical to the ground; a forward magic hop at the end of the follow through; then backpedal to return to the original position. Eye should always be on the ball, upper body pushed forward when contacting the ball. Ensure that the knee is slightly bent at the end of the swing.
- One-touch kick for each player. No stopping the ball from rolling before striking it again. Kick to the teammate’s feet.
- The ball never stops, and it must always stay on the ground.
- The ball should be rolling very slowly when it is close to the teammate who is about to return the ball. Do not over-kick!
- To get maximum accuracy and to control the speed of the ball, the hip joint should be the main joint used for swinging the leg. (The knee joint comes more into play when a quick shot becomes necessary — close to the goal, for example — but it is secondary in this drill).
- Advanced players should be able to execute this drill for at least fifteen minutes with the ball never stopping and never leaving the ground so that the ball rolls continuously.
- To increase the challenge the distance between players can be extended up to 40-yards.
- Less experienced players can start by having a shorter distance between players, say about 15-yards or less, and by stopping the ball before returning it to their partners (two touches, in other words – one to control, one to kick).
The drill can be used at any time during a practice, ideally before shooting at goal, or perhaps as a cool-down for about ten minutes at the end of practice.
Of special note: this is a great drill to develop the weaker leg. It can also be adapted as a great drill to develop the inside-of-the-foot push pass, with or without the magic hop during the backswing (for one-touch passing) or at the end of the follow-through (to add distance of the pass).
It is hoped that players will understand that the techniques needed for this drill will increase their accuracy and overall control when shooting at goal.
Soccer Coaching Tips:
- Dominant leg, non-dominant leg, alternate legs.
Deepest appreciation to Coach Rick Sewall for contributing this article.
© Copyright, John C. Harves