Q&A for How to Bend a Soccer Ball

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  • Question
    How do you curve a soccer ball?
    Walter Merino
    Soccer Coach
    Walter Merino is a Youth Soccer Coach and Co-Founder of Ole Soccer Club based out of the Los Angeles, California area. He has coached youth from the age of four to the high school and college levels. Walter has played collegiate soccer for Cal Poly Pomona and Los Angeles Mission College. His accomplishments include coaching Olé Soccer Club to win the 2017 Cal South State Cup Governors Boys 2007 Division title.
    Soccer Coach
    Expert Answer
    Try to start practice hitting passes using the internal part of your foot. Make sure to curve your legs, as the movement is all about your body and your follow through. As you're hitting the ball, try to swing your body in the shape of a J. The more you practice that, the more you will be able to manipulate the ball to curve certain ways.
  • Question
    What if you slice the ball on the outside, but you don't get enough power?
    Misty Benson
    Soccer Coach
    Misty Benson is a Soccer Coach and Academic Specialist in Plano, Texas. She has been the head coach of high school soccer teams since 2003 and the Coordinator for US Soccer National Teams since 2013. She has a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Texas A&M-Commerce.
    Soccer Coach
    Expert Answer
    You have to build up to power. Work on the correct technique first and then focus on building power in your kick.
  • Question
    I've been practising spinning the ball with the outside of my foot for weeks now, however no matter how hard I try I always toe-hack the ball with terrible accuracy. What am I doing wrong?
    Misty Benson
    Soccer Coach
    Misty Benson is a Soccer Coach and Academic Specialist in Plano, Texas. She has been the head coach of high school soccer teams since 2003 and the Coordinator for US Soccer National Teams since 2013. She has a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Texas A&M-Commerce.
    Soccer Coach
    Expert Answer
    It sounds like you are using the wrong part of your foot. For this kick, you should not be "toe punching," instead use either the inside or outside of your foot, not your laces.
  • Question
    I get spin, but I can't get the ball to go up in the air and dip down after it curves. What am I doing wrong?
    Community Answer
    Aim for the very bottom of the ball. Pretend you're trying to kick the grass, but if you go under too much, the kick will be bad.
  • Question
    How can I maintain my good dribbling skills at home?
    Community Answer
    Practice dribbling with your non-dominant foot back and forth, and your dominant foot. Dribble in zigzags or other patterns. Practice frequently, or your dribbling skills will weaken.
  • Question
    I'm getting spin but not bend; what am I doing wrong?
    Community Answer
    You are not hitting with enough power. If you strike the ball harder, and use your hips, you will get some bend on your shot.
  • Question
    How can I control the swing of the ball ?
    Community Answer
    The closer to the centre, the less swing there is. You can also jab your foot into where the ball meets with the grass to shoot a knuckleball. A knuckleball (sometimes known differently) is when the ball swings one way in the air then goes the other. Check out David Beckham's free kick to see an example of this in action.
  • Question
    How can I strike hard?
    Community Answer
    First, you plant your non-dominant foot next to the soccer ball. Next, make sure your body is over the ball. Swing your dominant foot back, then swing it forward, and kick the ball. Make sure to follow through with the full swing to regain your balance.
  • Question
    How do I chip a ball?
    Community Answer
    As you approach a dead ball, place your non-kicking foot next to your instep. Bring your kicking foot through underneath the ball and lift the toe of your shoe upward to apply backspin. Try not to follow through too much, and make sure you lean over the ball. If you're leaning back you will send the ball up and it won't come back down in time to be of any use!
  • Question
    What's the ball contact area?
    Community Answer
    It should be a little off center and below the center. Contact the ball about 2 inches off center and follow through on a bend.
  • Question
    What's foot contact area?
    Community Answer
    When passing, the foot contact area is the inside of your foot. When shooting, the foot contact area is where your shoelaces are, because kicking with that part of your foot makes the kick harder.
  • Question
    Can I do it even if it's not a free kick?
    Community Answer
    You can always bend a soccer ball shot, not just on a free kick. You could bend corner kicks, penalty shots, free kicks, and regular shots to try to fool the goalie.
  • Question
    I cannot shoot with the laces. Is there any way to be able to use my laces?
    Community Answer
    You should point your toe down with your heel up and strike the ball that way. It also takes a lot of practice to learn to bend the ball so be prepared to be patient.
  • Question
    How can I shoot a free-kick?
    Community Answer
    For a free-kick, you will need to plant your non-dominant foot next to the ball. Next, you will need to swing your other foot back, and hit the ball with the part of your foot where your shoelaces are. For the best kick, make sure to follow through with your leg.
  • Question
    How do I curl the ball in normal matches?
    Community Answer
    You do the same thing. If you have room to get the curve you want, try to lean to the side when you kick the ball.
  • Question
    How can develop my opposite foot?
    Community Answer
    Dribble fast with your other foot and practice all the basic drills you did before you were good with you strong foot. Shoot a lot and practice crossing.
  • Question
    I am getting the curl but not the height. What am l doing wrong?
    Community Answer
    You probably are not going low enough on the ball. To get the height, you have to hit near the bottom of the ball. How low you go determines how much height the ball gets.
  • Question
    I just can't get the height/air even though I kick it under. What can I do to get this height?
    Community Answer
    Lean back when you kick, but don't overdo it or it will go over the net. Also, kick with the top inside part of your foot while getting underneath it. It is the strongest part of your foot.
  • Question
    I curl the ball on the side of my big toe. Is that okay?
    Community Answer
    If it works for you it is okay, but it is better to strike the ball with your foot, just where the big toe ends and the foot begins as stated in this article. Try doing it both ways and see which way works better for you.
  • Question
    I cannot get air or spin. Any tips?
    Community Answer
    Do the spin with your foot, like the inside of your foot. Practice more and more and reread this article as it will help.
  • Question
    How can I control the ball?
    Community Answer
    You can control the ball when dribbling it by giving it light touches with your foot, so that the ball stays under your body and away from the opposing team. After completing a move, you can regain control by sweeping the ball up with the inside of the foot you didn't use for the move.
  • Question
    What can curves help with?
    Community Answer
    Curves with the ball can help with scoring.
  • Question
    I can't curve the ball and I have followed all the rules given. What should I do?
    I8me43
    Community Answer
    Try to put your foot at more of a negative angle and strike the ball on the laces or the bone on your foot. It takes a lot of practice to get it right.
  • Question
    How do I do a Rabona?
    Oisín Beggan
    Community Answer
    If you are right footed, place your left foot on the right side of the ball and quickly kick the ball with your right leg. Your right leg should end up behind your left leg. If you are left footed, simply follow the steps above, but switch right and left.
  • Question
    How can I play like a champion?
    Community Answer
    Practice techniques, ball control, and getting the ball down the field. Most of all, practice.
  • Question
    What kind of practice should I do if I'm a ten year old, and I have orange round markers, my dad, a fence, a ball, cones, my backyard, and some goalkeeper gloves?
    Community Answer
    You can do a lot with those things! For starters, you can practice shooting on the fence-or your father can, as you listed goalie gloves. I'm not quite sure what to do with the markers, but you can do many drills with the cones!
  • Question
    I'm a wing back, how can I make a good cross to support the forwards?
    Sabrina
    Community Answer
    Lead the forwards with the ball. Leading with the ball means to kick it to the place they are going to, not where they are at the time you kick it. With that, you should be able to cross to the forwards more accurately.
  • Question
    My foot is too big. When I try to hit by the laces, it hurts. What can I do?
    Community Answer
    Your foot is not the problem, it will hurt if you do not close your toes completely.
  • Question
    if I am curling a shot were should I aim the far post or the outside of the goal?
    Community Answer
    Depending on how much you can curve it, either aim for the post, outside the post, or even inside the goal. This is all determined based on how much you can curve the ball.
  • Question
    How do I get it to go to the top corner?
    Community Answer
    Usually I chip the ball into the corner. Make sure to get your foot under the ball so that you can pop it up.
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