FineSoccer Kids 7

Welcome to the FineSoccer Kids Newsletter. Today's subject will deal with how to shoot low.

Too often, a player shoots the ball over the goal and a parent or coach yells from the sideline "Get your head over the ball" or ""plant your foot forward" or something like that. However, the question is WHY should you do that and HOW do you really shoot the ball low.

Whenever you hear that you should get over the ball, or something like that, what they are really trying to get at is to make contact on the ball on the upper half of the ball. The reason a ball goes rises is that the shooter has made contact on the bottom half of the ball which results in the ball rising. If you make contact on the upper half of the ball, the ball will stay low. It really is that simple.

So why do coaches tell you to get over the ball? If your knee is over the ball, and your ankle is locked then you will always make contact on the upper half of the ball so the ball will stay low. If you plant your non-kicking foot to the side of the ball (or even slightly in front of the ball and to the side) you will make contact on the upper half of the ball and it will stay down. If you get your head over the ball (and you lock your ankle, you will make contact on the upper half of the ball and it will stay low.

In other words, when you hear someone from the sidelines yelling to get your knee over the ball, what they are really saying is make contact on the upper half of the ball. The absolute best way to do this is to keep your head down and to watch the ball when you are making contact and make sure that you are hitting the upper part of the ball.

Chances are, if you keep your head down to watch you make contact with the ball and you watch your foot hit the upper part of the ball, you will be doing everything else correctly.

Why don't people simply say this? I have no idea.

Any comments, questions or suggestions should be sent to mailto:lawrence@finesoccer.com.

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Have a great day!

Lawrence