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How to strengthen my children's kicks
Posted on 4/24/17 at 2:28 pm
Posted on 4/24/17 at 2:28 pm
I'm hoping this board will be able to help me. I have a 10 and 8 year old that play soccer. They are really good players but both of them are looking to improve their game. The biggest problem they have is that they can't kick the ball as hard as their teammates can. I know they are too young to lift weights. I am trying to find out if anyone knows of some simple exercises to help them. I don't mind purchasing equipment if need be. Thank you for any advice.
8
Posted on 4/24/17 at 2:32 pm to Radiojones
Do you know if it's a technique issue or strength issue?
Posted on 4/24/17 at 2:36 pm to Radiojones
I remember around that age I found my kicks lacking power too.
Just something you kind of have to deal with until you hit a growth spurt and catch up with the rest of the kids.
Proper kicking/shooting technique is key though. The strength will come with time.
(Do NOT let them toe poke the ball just because it comes off their foot faster for the time being)
Just something you kind of have to deal with until you hit a growth spurt and catch up with the rest of the kids.
Proper kicking/shooting technique is key though. The strength will come with time.
(Do NOT let them toe poke the ball just because it comes off their foot faster for the time being)
This post was edited on 4/24/17 at 2:39 pm
Posted on 4/24/17 at 2:37 pm to Broski
I would say that it is mostly a strength issue even though we work on their technique daily. Both of them have recently started jogging daily.
Posted on 4/24/17 at 2:37 pm to Radiojones
quote:
The biggest problem they have is that they can't kick the ball as hard as their teammates can.
Keep the ball on the floor and play the way your facing.
Don't need power to make a 10-15 yard pass.
Posted on 4/24/17 at 2:40 pm to Radiojones
quote:
I would say that it is mostly a strength issue even though we work on their technique daily. Both of them have recently started jogging daily.
Are your kids smaller than their peers?
ETA: Also, I hope you are using the term "daily" loosely here. No reason to burn out an 8 year old by having him practice every day.
This post was edited on 4/24/17 at 2:42 pm
Posted on 4/24/17 at 2:40 pm to Radiojones
sounds like they should hit the weight room
Posted on 4/24/17 at 2:48 pm to Broski
They are around the same size as their teammates.
Sorry, I am using the term daily very loosely. The go jogging with my wife a few times a week whenever they feel like it. I make sure not to apply any pressure on them.
Sorry, I am using the term daily very loosely. The go jogging with my wife a few times a week whenever they feel like it. I make sure not to apply any pressure on them.
Posted on 4/24/17 at 2:54 pm to Radiojones
quote:
They are around the same size as their teammates.
Then it could possibly be a technique issue. At that age, the biggest thing kids need to know is to keep their body over the ball. Too often, they want to lean back to try and get more air under the ball, but lean too far back and you lose a lot of power.
Posted on 4/24/17 at 3:11 pm to Broski
quote:
Too often, they want to lean back to try and get more air under the ball, but lean too far back and you lose a lot of power.
This.
As well as making sure their foot practically touches their butt when shooting. Feels goofy at first, but the power added from not simple swinging your leg at the ball is noticeable.
Posted on 4/24/17 at 4:06 pm to Radiojones
I would concentrate on good technique and making good contact. The power will come later. If they start trying to hit the ball as hard as possible then technique will probably suffer.
You could always get a local club coach for a few private lessons.
You could always get a local club coach for a few private lessons.
Posted on 4/24/17 at 8:42 pm to Broski
quote:
oo often, they want to lean back to try and get more air under the ball, but lean too far back and you lose a lot of power
Yep. You want to basically keep your head down and drive your hips through the ball, and make sure you're using your inside the foot laces (hardest part of your foot) to make contact with the ball.
This post was edited on 4/24/17 at 8:43 pm
Posted on 4/24/17 at 9:03 pm to bluebarracuda
My 4 year old was having similar issues, I got her on a low dose steroid and started making her eat two cans of tuna a day. During the first can she had to do lunges around the backyard and the second calf raises. Add in a little ankle flexibility work and finally a tied a 8 pound weight around her head to make sure shes looking down and leaning forward over the ball when she would kick.
She's 5 now and has probably the 2nd or 3rd strongest leg on her team.
She's 5 now and has probably the 2nd or 3rd strongest leg on her team.
Posted on 4/24/17 at 9:07 pm to RandySavage
Gonna be the first woman in the Premier League. Keep it up!
Posted on 4/24/17 at 10:22 pm to Radiojones
I have chicken legs and still blast the ball even when I was younger. Proper technique and form will lead to power.
My girly calves never grew but my legs gained mass above the knee. Once that happened I was launching the ball from the six across the field and became the primary set piece taker.
My girly calves never grew but my legs gained mass above the knee. Once that happened I was launching the ball from the six across the field and became the primary set piece taker.
Posted on 4/25/17 at 9:59 am to cfontenot4
quote:
Gonna be the first woman in the Premier League
That would obviously be the pinnacle but let's not forget she's still a girl. La Liga or the Bundesliga probably would be a much better fit.
Posted on 4/25/17 at 11:13 am to RandySavage
At 8 and 10 focus on dribbling and passing. If they want to work on shooting then just focus on placement as that will matter way more in the long run.
Posted on 4/25/17 at 11:33 am to Maderan
I had this same issue as my 7 yo. There are plenty of good vids on youtube to watch but likely one of the following is the issue:
Loose striking foot. Make sure they are pointing their toe throughout the shot so that their toe is flexed when it strikes the ball. Does their foot "flop" during the follow through or wind up pointed towards the sky during their follow through? If so then their foot is not flexed. It should be pointed straight ahead with heel tucked into calf.
Not reaching back with striking foot. Get heel as close to arse as possible prior to kick and then snap it forward when striking. It helps to take a slightly bigger last step with your plant foot.
Plant foot is behind ball when striking. Foot should be next to or just in front of the ball. This allows your striking foot to be at its strongest and not already be in its follow through phase when its makes contact with the ball.
Face of foot meeting face of ball. What is the rotation of the ball after you strike it? If it is rapidly rotating backwards then you are getting under the ball and your foot is not making solid contact with the face of the ball. Pointing toes during wind up will help this. Try leaning towards your plant foot a little as well.
Hips should be forward when kicking. Most power comes from the hips/glutes in kicking. Quads are important too but too much quad power will make for an inaccurate shot.
A couple things that helped my kid is to just stand next to the ball and kick it with no run up. Forced him to get as much from his kick leg as possible.
Slow motion video his kicks so you can show him the what he is doing wrong.
Work on having him kick with his weaker foot. Besides this being a big advantage in soccer it will force him to understand the mechanics of the soccer shot better which will strengthen his dominant foot in the process.
Focus on being a more accurate shooter instead of thinking power. Power is important but it will come and in the meantime the can feel good about their accuracy. Most of the big legs on my sons team cant hit the broad side of a barn if they have too. Can kick it a mile but they have no control.
It will likely take some time but it will come. I doubt its a "strength" issue.
Good luck!
Loose striking foot. Make sure they are pointing their toe throughout the shot so that their toe is flexed when it strikes the ball. Does their foot "flop" during the follow through or wind up pointed towards the sky during their follow through? If so then their foot is not flexed. It should be pointed straight ahead with heel tucked into calf.
Not reaching back with striking foot. Get heel as close to arse as possible prior to kick and then snap it forward when striking. It helps to take a slightly bigger last step with your plant foot.
Plant foot is behind ball when striking. Foot should be next to or just in front of the ball. This allows your striking foot to be at its strongest and not already be in its follow through phase when its makes contact with the ball.
Face of foot meeting face of ball. What is the rotation of the ball after you strike it? If it is rapidly rotating backwards then you are getting under the ball and your foot is not making solid contact with the face of the ball. Pointing toes during wind up will help this. Try leaning towards your plant foot a little as well.
Hips should be forward when kicking. Most power comes from the hips/glutes in kicking. Quads are important too but too much quad power will make for an inaccurate shot.
A couple things that helped my kid is to just stand next to the ball and kick it with no run up. Forced him to get as much from his kick leg as possible.
Slow motion video his kicks so you can show him the what he is doing wrong.
Work on having him kick with his weaker foot. Besides this being a big advantage in soccer it will force him to understand the mechanics of the soccer shot better which will strengthen his dominant foot in the process.
Focus on being a more accurate shooter instead of thinking power. Power is important but it will come and in the meantime the can feel good about their accuracy. Most of the big legs on my sons team cant hit the broad side of a barn if they have too. Can kick it a mile but they have no control.
It will likely take some time but it will come. I doubt its a "strength" issue.
Good luck!
This post was edited on 4/25/17 at 11:38 am
Posted on 4/25/17 at 12:08 pm to Radiojones
Technique.
Also, your children can do bodyweight exercises. Perfectly safe. Take them to the park and have them play on the jungle gym, bodyweight squats, and the like.
Don't have to do it daily.
Also, your children can do bodyweight exercises. Perfectly safe. Take them to the park and have them play on the jungle gym, bodyweight squats, and the like.
Don't have to do it daily.
Posted on 4/25/17 at 12:54 pm to Radiojones
If you are worried about muscle strength, have them ride their bikes a lot.
Secondly this is a technique issue.
Secondly this is a technique issue.
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