Soccer Coaching - Flighted Balls

When coaching youth soccer, teaching youth soccer players to serve flighted balls or lofted passes is sometimes difficult due to leg strength. However, follow some simple guidelines in teaching them when they are young and oh boy... watch out.

Striking flighted balls is a very important aspect of the game of soccer. Set pieces, goal kicks, corner kicks, clearances from the defense, crosses from the outside into the penalty box are just a few good reasons to teach youth soccer players to strike flighted balls.

There are a couple important teaching points that should be highlighted when teaching players to strike these kind of balls. I first start off by making sure the players know what part of the foot they should be using. To do this, have the players push on the top of their foot near the laces until they find the bone on the top of their foot near their laces. We will call this part of the foot the "meat" of the foot where we should strike these flighted balls.

1. Make sure the soccer player approach the ball from an angle and not straight on.
2. The player's body should be leaning away from the ball which will cause the player to strike under the ball causing the lift.
3. The non-kicking foot should be placed to the side of the ball and slightly behind the ball.
4. The kicking foot should have a locked ankle and the toe should be pointed away from the player.
5. The player should attempt to strike the bottom half of the ball with the "meat" of their foot which will also help with the loft of the ball.
6. The player should attempt to strike the ball in the middle of the ball to avoid slicing the ball.

Some common issues when striking flighted balls include: not approaching the ball at an angle, not locking the ankle, not kicking with the "meat" of the foot, non-kicking foot too close or far away from the ball, and lifting the head too quickly before striking the ball.