Tips to improve kicking distance/accuracy

madheaded

Does anyone have any tips to increase the distance of kicks and to a lesser extent accuracy(I'm fairly accurate at kicking) I've noticed a lot of my shots dropping short of the goal or of a player of late and was wondering how to increase my kicking distance. Thanks

Tristram

Practice & possibly weights depending on your age. Ask your coach for advice!

Ballygowan2L

Tristram wrote: »

Practice & possibly weights depending on your age. Ask your coach for advice!

Yes weights would help but also keep working on your technique at the same time. Be sure that you dont spin the ball off the outside of the foot or hit it too much with the inside of the boot. Both of these will cause the ball to drop short, from a hook kick that is. Try get under the ball with the laces part and slightly inside of the foot (just to keep some bit of accuracy) . Try shooting from close to the goal first keeping the angle simple before slowly increasing the angle and the distance from the goals. Then when you have got your range try and kick a point while running as this will really show if you keep the technique. Accuracy is important also dont forget that!! Know your range that you can shoot from and therefore in a match situation you will prevent dropping the ball short and maybe pass it off to a person in a better position. When you know your range then weights will improve the distance of your kick.

chillok

Technique is a huge part. Trying to alter your technique is difficult but it's possible. If it helps speak to a coach directly on it, or a player at your club will probably be happy to help. Practise.

Conditioned

Tehnique really is the big thing and you've been given some good advice on that here. It would be no harm to get someone to look at your kicking technique as well.

Weights wisw you should be doing compound exercises that are hip dominant. Examples are the squat and deadlift.

Don't waste time doing leg extensions as they have no real carryover to kicking power.

madheaded

cheers for the advice lads asked the coach and he basically said practice will help. as for the weights he said it might be a bit too late to start for this season but if i wanted to i would see results

LeoB

As has been stated here technique is the most important. You then need to do a lot of work to find what you feel comfortable with in regard to addressing the ball when it is placed on the ground and no matter where the kick is from dont change it. I remember Michael O'Brien of Longford when he played for Civil Service in Dublin and he was quite small but what a strike of a ball, he had his range and that was it, about 55yds he was deadly.

For goalies the kicking tee has made a huge difference especially at club level. Mind you the Dublin U/21 keeper does not use one and he is very accurate and hits 60+ meters with a few steps up to ball. I see him practise place kicking every night he trains for 20minute****ting targets at various distances from the goal.

Depending on your age you might not lengthen your kicks that much. I remember talking to an inter county player at work and he felt you lose a yard or 2 as the years go by, 30 - 31. As a forward tho I dont know about the weights but doing some strength and conditioning might help, but I would suggest you talk to a coach who is qualified to a high standard.

aDeener

practice kicking a medicine ball before you kick a normal ball,, and the normal ball feels like a balloon afterwards. you will feel that you can drive it much further. i believe ronan o'gara does this. i have done it and feel it has improved my distance