The best way between two points is not necessarily a straight line if you are taking a free kick in soccer and you want to score a goal. You have to learn how to curve the flight of the ball to bend it around or over the wall of defenders who line up to prevent an easy score. You curve the ball by imparting spin to it; air flows unevenly over the surface, causing the ball to swerve and dip.
Step 1
Approach the ball from behind at a slight angle, recommends coach Joseph A. Luxbacher in “Soccer: Steps to Success.” Plant your support leg to the side of the ball. Focus your eyes on the ball and keep your head steady.
Step 2
Draw back your kicking leg fully extended. Bring your foot through the ball slightly right of its vertical midline, contacting it with the center of your laces. Lean slightly back as you contact the ball. Follow though with a motion that goes outside in; in other words, bring your leg across the front of your body rather than directly forward after contacting the ball.
Step 3
Curve the ball in the opposite direction by contacting the ball to the left of its vertical midline with the outside of your laces. Follow through with an inside-out motion, swinging your kicking leg away from the midline of your body.
Step 4
Practice curves with a partner and then into an undefended goal. Place a cone halfway between you and the goal and bend the ball around it on the way to goal, advises physical education professor Danny Mielke in “Soccer Fundamentals.” Add a larger obstacle such as a softball pitching screen between you and the goal for your practice curve shots, and ultimately a live goalkeeper.
Things You'll Need
- Cone
- Pitching screen
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