To score a goal in soccer, or even kick the ball well, you must combine many variables, from your body position and wind resistance to opponent strength and air temperature. Air temperature will change the distance you can kick the ball because it changes the air inside it. Make small adjustments to your kicks depending on the air temperature and you continue to score.
Construction
A soccer ball contains an inner rubber bladder that you fill with air and an outside synthetic leather material. The outside covering helps maintain the shape of the ball and protect the bladder from punctures and loss of air. The air pressure inside the soccer ball is what helps the ball bounce and respond to your kicks.
Pressure
When the soccer ball is dropped, or kicked, the air molecules inside the ball compress.The natural reaction to this compression is for the ball to resume its original shape. The air molecules press up against the ball with force to cause the ball to bounce off the ground or your foot. If this did not occur, the ball would simply fall to the ground when you kicked it.
Air Temperature
The outside temperature changes how the air molecules inside a soccer ball respond to a kick. When the temperature drops and the air is cold, your soccer ball contracts. A contraction lessens the amount of energy the ball requires to return to its original shape. When you kick a cold soccer ball you will not be able to kick it the same distance as a room temperature ball. Your foot connects with the ball and compresses the ball when you kick it and then the ball does not exert a lot of force in response.
Kicking
A cold ball requires a harder, more precise kick to travel a long distance. One way to improve the strength of your soccer kick is to concentrate on your ankle pushing through the ball. Observe your knee as you kick and drive it straight forward, not upward, to push your ankle forward. A second way to increase the power of your kick is to move your whole body forward as you kick. Press your ankle through the ball, your knee over the ball and continue your forward motion with the rest of your body. The third way to improve your kicking technique is to kick with the laces or the instep of your shoe.
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