Soccer Goal Kick in 5 Steps

In this article you will learn how to execute a soccer goal kick properly. My own experience tells me that many goalkeepers don’t know how to perform a proper soccer goal kick. However, being able to kick the ball hard and far is an important part of your game. Also, a goal kick is a good contra attack weapon if executed properly.

And if you really manage to kick the ball hard you may even score a goal sometimes if the opponent’s goalkeeper is too far away from the goal. All right, let’s start to look at how to execute a soccer goal kick properly...

Soccer Goal Kick

1. Place your kicking leg properly – This one is crucial whether you will get a powerful kick or not. The technique behind a powerful kick is: The higher you manage to bring your kicking leg back the greater amount of power you will be able to put on the ball.

2. Placing your ankle in right position -While executing a goal kick you need to keep the ankle of your kicking foot locked.

3. Position of the Knee - You need to have the knee of your supporting leg slightly bent. This will make it easier for you to kick the ball with the half instep which is the best kicking method for a goal kick. The more you bend your knee the easier you’ll have to hit the ball with your half instep.

4. Supporting Leg Distance - While executing a goal kick your foot should be about a foot away from the ball. By doing this you will make it easier for yourself to kick the ball from a 45 degree angle (which will make it possible to strike the ball with maximum power). Another thing that you need to keep in mind is that the direction of your supporting foot will decide the direction of the ball.

5. Body Position – By leaning your body forward you will be able to keep your kick low to the ground. However, leaning your body back will force the ball to fly higher. Most goalkeepers prefer to lean their body back to get enough height on the ball. One rule you can have is to kick the ball at least 4-5 yards above the ground. On this way you will get enough height on the ball while your opponents will not be able to head it.

Whether you are new to goalkeeping or have been a goalie for some time, the things mentioned in this article will surely improve your goal kick. Leaving out one of the points mentioned above will result in a poor kick. However, I know by experience that remembering all this during your kicking practice can be pretty hard. You may therefore print out this article and keep it as a checklist while participating in your soccer training.