INSTEP BASICS

This past weekend I was working with some high school aged players, and was reminded of the fact that there are very few players that know how to strike a ball over distance, and can do so under pressure.

It reminded me of a skills progression that I will use with this group during an upcoming session. It can really revolutionize how player plays as it is able to increase each player’s “playing distance”.

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Start way back with the basics….

Take off your shoe and sock.
Sit on the floor, with both feet on the floor… knees inside your arms… start by
kicking the ball out of your hands (like a punt). But, just do it lightly so that the
ball only goes up about 2 feet or so.

Make sure that your toe is pointed and that you keep your ankle “locked”.
Strike the ball with the “laces” part of the foot. If your ball goes up without any
spin… or with a little “top” spin… then you are doing it correctly. If the ball
comes back towards your face… then try again. Keep doing this over and over…
it will develop a good feel for what it is like to hit the ball with your laces.
After you have managed that… try hitting the ball twice with the foot. But,
make sure that there is still a proper spin… ankle locked… toe pointed.

When you get good control it is time to stand up.

Now, do the same thing.. kick the ball out of your hands (like a punt) but have
the ball only go up in the air about 6-7 feet high. Look for the ball going up with
no spin again. Keep your foot in that good position. Your knee needs to be
slightly bent as well. Kick the ball straight up in the air. Again, you are just
trying to get a good feel for the ball. The ball’s spin tells you if you are doing it
correctly.

Then, try to do it with a bounce between each kick. But, still only have the ball
go up about 6-7 feet high. It is important that you do this with control instead of
power. This is almost like juggling, but, let the ball bounce each time. Then,
can you do two touches… (each one going up without backspin) between each
bounce?

Now… progress where you are letting the ball bounce on the ground, then kick it
to a friend or against some wall. Still with bare feet! Make sure that you strike
the ball when it is on the way down. Hit it with your “laces”. Toe pointed, ankle
locked. Now, the ball should have “top spin”… and should not go higher than
your head. Keep working on this for MANY times. See if you can now work on
accuracy and some power. Again, you should be getting a real feel for the ball
with your laces.

After you do this… it is time to put your shoes back on and try from the ground
again. See if there is any improvement… there should be. You should have a
real feel for the ball by now!

One warning… this takes time!!! Some players that I have worked with on this
need a whole season to work things out. Practice correctly!!! It is more
important to “practice perfectly” than to kill yourself working frantically and too
hard. Take your time.

My last suggestion is to watch high level games. Watch how the real good
players strike the ball. Watch them, then try to copy them!