Becoming good at free kicks can make you indispensable to the team, and is an easy way to score goals. Putting the ball past the wall, past the keeper, and into the upper ninety isn’t easy, but after following this guide and implementing its techniques, very possible.
Free Kick Technique
For shooting technique that you can apply to free kicks, I recommend looking at How to Kick a Soccer Ball
Taking a free kick isn’t exactly like shooting however. There are some steps that you should take:
1. Place the Ball
You can’t move the ball much, but you can set it down. Set it down so it is on a good part of the field if you can, not in dirt or uneven terrain.
2. Look
Look at the wall and look at the goalie. You should be thinking about where you want to place the ball, or where you want to cross the ball. Before you step back, think about where you will place the ball.
3. Step Back
Take a few steps back and take a deep breath. Don’t take like 6 steps back. Just take two or three.
Getting the Ball Past the Wall
The wall is your first obstacle. If you don’t get the ball past the wall, you will never accomplish anything with your free kicks. So how do you kick it past the wall? There are three ways:
Air
The most obvious and common route is to kick the ball above the wall. To do this, get under the ball. Still kick with power, but not so much that the ball flies over the goal.
Ground
A cheeky way to beat the wall is to strike it on the ground. Oftentimes, the wall will jump, allowing the ball to go under them. You can get off a hard shot this way and the goalie won’t expect it.
Bend
Perhaps the best way, it to bend the ball around the wall. If you can do this successfully, you can strike the ball hard and to the corners without getting a lot of air under it. Bending if covered more in our Types of Soccer Shots page.
Soccer Free Kick Tips
This tips will help you get the most out of your free kicks.
Relax
Many players get nervous and tense up during a free kick. This usually results in the ball hitting the wall or going over the goal. Relax, breath, and kick with confidence. You can do this.
Don’t Kick it Weak
I have seen some players chip the ball over the wall, allowing the goalkeeper to easily catch it. While its important to avoid kicking it over the goal, you still need to hit it with pace.
Take it With Confidence
Often, many players on the team want to take a free kick. If you know that you have a good free kick, don’t be afraid to step up and say “hey, I’m going to take it.” More information on this in the Soccer Teammates Guide
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