Driving Instep Shooting

Physical Homework

Players should perform the following conditioning activities plus practice their driving instep shot, accomplishing the following over the course of the week:

Conditioning

Players, for the next week, should lie on their backs with their feet outfront and their hands across their stomachs, anytime they are watching a video, tv, or have a few minutes to spare.  They should then place their chins on their chest, off of the floor, and hold their heads in that position while they watch tv or whatever.  They should try to hold their heads in that position for as long as possible.  This is designed to begin to strengthen their neck muscles for skills we will be working on, namely heading.

Driving Instep Shot 

Players should practice in their backyards, at a local school while siblings play other sports, or on a kickback goal if available.

• Players will be driving the ball with power into a fence, brick wall, or kickback goal of some kind.  The object is for them to be kicking against something that will return the ball and accept their hardest shots.

• Players should observe the things that make up a good instep kick:

  • The ball is struck with the laces of the shoe.

  • The foot does not go under the ball, it strikes the ball in the middle.

  • See the target before taking the kick.  "Take a picture".

  • The knee should be slightly over the ball with the head down looking at the ball as it is struck.

  • Non-kicking foot pointing at the goal, or target.

  • Lock the ankle for the kick, do not let foot wobble around!

  • Toes of kicking foot are pointing down, making a nice flat surface to strike the ball with.

  • Follow through, kicking foot should end up in front of you - as if you had taken a step.

• Players should complete a minimum of 100 driving instep shots with the right foot, and 100 driving instep shots with the left foot over the course of the week.

Mental Homework

Players should study the following and come prepared to answer questions:

When to Dribble?/When to Pass?

• Any time you have a pass, take it. Dribble only when you can't pass or if you can dribble & score.

• If the other team gives you plenty of room - dribble the ball up, but think about who you are going to pass to as you move with the ball.  Who is the most open player on my team?

• Generally, do not dribble in the 1/3 of the field nearest your own goal (i.e., in your "defending Third") unless you must in order to get past a defender so you can make a pass or a clearing kick, because if you dribble near your goal the other team might steal the ball & score. 

• Especially when the ball is in the Danger Zone (our penalty box area), you should clear it, preferably to the side. If you must dribble, dribble toward the side line, not toward the center.

• Try to never dribble the ball in front of our own goal!

• Dribbling in the Midfield Third of the field is used to setup passes and switching.

• Dribbling in the Attacking Third of the field is used to score or cross the ball.

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