The images demonstrate the right and wrong way to kick a football. The instep or top of your foot is the part provides both power and control.

The advantage of the instep is that it presents a flat surface to the ball, and can also be used to make the ball swerve and dip.

This basic soccer kicking technique is often overlooked, because it is so simple. The real skill is being able to kick accurately whilst under pressure, and it is far more important to consistently excel at this basic skill than to be able to perform fancy tricks.

Tips

Not to use use the toe, because it can be painful if somebody tackles hard when you are trying to kick.

Using toe can be terribly inaccurate. The toe presents a smaller surface to the ball producing little power and little accuracy.

The non-kicking foot provides support, and should be bent as you kick.

When we want to keep the ball on the ground, the head is down, over the ball.

After kicking the ball, the follow-through should be long and smooth.

It is a good idea not to approach the ball straight on, but to approach slightly from the side whenever possible.

Exercise

Useful drills for beginners include passing the ball in pairs over 10-20 metres within a narrow corridor, and for sole training kicking at targets on a wall.

Football passing techniques are vital for keeping possession and controlling the game, and many parts of the foot can be used. The simplest and most accurate method for short distance passes is to use the inside of the foot, which presents a large flat surface to the soccer ball.

Tips

The instep is used for long ball passing, as well as hip twisting.

the heel and ball of the foot can be used to pass behind,

the outside of the foot can be used to pass the ball quickly to the sides, or to bend the ball to pass it around an opponent. Passing drills are important for sharp, accurate play, and to learn effective use of space.

When passing the ball the head is over the ball, the body is well balanced, and the ball is kicked with the flat part of inside of the foot. Sometimes this technique is used for short-range shots at goal, and even for taking penalties, because of its reliability. Inside of the foot provides more accuracy.

The passing technique shown here is used for short passes, but corner kicks, crosses and long balls played over fifty or sixty metres into your opponents' penalty area are also passes if they reach one of your own players.

The long ball tactic can be highly effective if your team has tall players with strong heading ability, or fast forwards, who can run behind the defence, but there is a high risk of giving the ball away. Accurate short passes with supporting runs into space allows a team to keep possession, and build an attack.

Crosses and corner kicks should best be played into red box area. From this area the ball can be headed as well as being knocked into the net. More importantly the goal keeper has less time to react.

Inside the amber area is the ideal area for taking shots at goal.

Taking a penalty is an art by itself. Although it looks easy, it is not. Best area to put the ball is in the shaded area.

The lofted kick is the soccer skill used to play the long ball, cross the ball into the penalty area, and to clear the ball from defence. Apart from the chip, used for short-range kicks, this is the only technique for lifting the ball into the air with real power.

It is important to strike low down on the ball to generate lift, and to lean back slightly. Beginners sometimes find it difficult to balance properly.

Tips

it is important not to fall too far to the side as you kick.

Using the non-kicking foot as a firm anchor, and putting your opposite arm out for balance will help.

Another useful tip is to try to place the non-kicking foot slightly in front of the ball instead of level with it.

With this kick you are trying to obtain distance as well as height.

Do not just kick the ball as high as possible. The objective is to kick the ball high enough to clear any opposition players.

This skill is important in many areas of football, such as shots at goal around defenders that are obscured from the goalkeeper's view, corner kicks, crosses into the box, and passing the ball around opponents. There are two main methods,

 1. using the outside of the foot to swerve the ball away from you.

2. using the inside of the foot to bend the ball inwards.

Swerve is produced by kicking the ball off centre on the opposite side to the side you want the ball to swerve to. For example, if you want to bend the ball from right to left with your right foot, you make contact with the ball on the right side using the inside of your foot. To make the ball bend away from you from left to right, kick the ball on the left side using the outside of your foot.

Tip

For improving your skill using the inside of the foot is to swivel on your non-kicking foot as you kick the ball.

The chip is used to quickly lift the ball over short distances. The chip uses a stabbing or chopping motion in which the lower part of the foot, but not the toe, makes contact low down on the ball. The knee of the kicking foot is bent, and high at the end of the follow-through. As for the lofted kick, it is best to lean back slightly, but with the head down looking at the ball.

For example, to pass the ball over an opponent to your team mate, or to lift the ball into the penalty area from a few metres away.

This kick generally is for non power applications, and used for lifting the ball quickly with control, and that the backspin generated from this method causes the ball to slow down on hitting the ground. This is especially useful when the ball is passed into a confined area, such as near the touchline.

Tips

A useful tip is to place the non-kicking foot slightly behind the ball.

Volley technique is a difficult skill to perform. As well as goal scoring, volleys can be used for passing sometimes, and kicking the ball away from danger in your own area when under pressure.

Tips

It is generally better for a defender to volley the ball away than to try to control the ball at a difficult height. The kicking techniques used for the full volley is different from the half volley, and the side volley pass.

One of the secrets of great volleys is the hip rotation. Starting from a square position with feet about shoulder width apart. Then, without moving your feet twist your hip to the right until your left shoulder is in front of you. Next, twist back to the right until your right shoulder is in front of you. This is the hip rotation that can improve your volleying technique, and it can be practised without a ball. Another way of thinking of this twisting motion is as a corkscrew.

Keeping the ball down is one of the worst problems with volleying technique. As with all kicking skills watching the ball, and keeping the head down helps, but it is important to try to keep the knee over the ball.

The overhead kick requires a lot of skill to perform well. Both feet must leave the ground for the overhead kick to be performed properly. The method is to jump off the kicking foot, and to throw the head back and the body follows. At the point of contact with the ball, the upper body should be almost horizontal to the ground. On landing, try to keep the arms flat on the ground, and arch the back. If the technique is not done properly it could cause injuries. So the landing is important, especially on hard pitches. Following this advice is entirely at your own risk! In particular, avoid landing on your head, neck, the base of your spine and your elbows.

Exercise

You can get the feel for the movement by hanging a ball in a net from the cross bar or other tall object, and kicking over head without falling over. Start with the ball at waist height, jump and kick with the same foot.

Next, raise the ball higher and concentrate on throwing your head back and getting your non-kicking foot airborne. A landing mat is advisable.

Tips

A recommended soccer drill for beginners is to kick a football hung from the cross bar.

The side volley pass is the technique to use when the ball arrives at a height above the knee, but below the waist. Using the side volley skill the ball can be passed first time to a team mate, anywhere on the field. Both the inside and outside of the foot can be used to direct the ball over a wide angle. The side volley pass using the inside of the foot is illustrated, but only a change in angle of the foot is needed to use the outside of the foot to direct the ball behind you.

For side volley pass let the ball come to your side,  getting sideways on to the ball, and  moving on your toes adjust and line yourself with the ball. on moment of kicking you should be on ball of your non-kicking foot. The ball is punched away using the inside of the foot. Timing and eye contact with the ball is important as for all volleys, so you should be careful not to snatch at the ball.

The trajectory and sound you make as you strike the ball are indications of whether or not you have got the technique right. There should be a crisp "ping" or "pong" sound, and the ball should take a flat trajectory rather than balloon into the air.