The perfect shot

Soccer is globally known as the most popular sport in the world. People everyday at any age level can get outside and play the beautiful games. whether you’re a beginner or have been playing for years, shooting a soccer ball and scoring a goal can be one of the most exciting feelings ever. I’ve put together a simple five step process that will give you the best chance I putting that ball into the back of the net.

• The run up: Not many people pay attention to the angle they are taking as they run up to the ball. It’s important to make sure you’re coming at the ball from a slight angle, but not completely from the side. This allows a person to have far more control of the direction the ball will go after they make contact.
• Planting foot: This may not be as obvious to the person who is just beginning to play soccer. As you approach the ball make sure you plant your .non kicking foot about 2–3 inches ( can vary a little) away from the ball, By doing this you’ll allow yourself to maintain your balance while you are striking the ball, and will allow you to get more power on the shot.
• Point of contact/ Body positioning: Focusing on the minor details that are often overlooked make this step the most complicated step within the entire process. It’s important to try your best to hit the lower portion of the ball. While you’re striking it, there are two things you can do to change up the shot a bit. In order to hit a low driven shot, you’ll want to curl your toes and lean over the ball. This will keep the ball low and give you the most power. To add a bit more lift to the shot you’ll need to slightly lean back, which is ideal for players that have a little more experience and can control the direction of their shot.
• Landing on your kicking foot: The follow through is just as important as the shot it’self. Whether you are left footed or right footed you will want to do your best to land on the same foot you’re shooting the ball with. This will feel uncomfortable or weird at first but after a few repetitions you should feel a bit more comfortable. By doing this you’re allowing yourself to get the most power on the shot.
• Aim at the goalie!: This may sound crazy to anybody who is trying to score a goal, but if you’re trying to hit a ball with a decent amount of power it’s going to be difficult to control where it goes. The majority of the time the ball is not going to go exactly where you are trying to put it. By aiming at the goalie and striking it with pace the ball will usually shift a bit to the side, which means if you were aiming at the goalie it’s going to be heading away from him/her and into the back of the net.

In the end there is always going to be different methods that work better for the different type of player. These basic steps will definitely be a simple way to improve your shot.