training barefoot= more skill development?

[Shaneo]

in past summers when i train individualy with the ball i always have worn my cleats. But this summer ive found that it is much easier and less tiring to train with the ball barefoot. i know many pro players today grew up playing barefoot but i was wondering if anyone knew if there is an advantage to playing barefoot. ( do u develop more skill/style barefoot).

[soccerkid89]

my coach has told me to juggle barefoot and it really has helped me alot. It gives u a real feel for the ball on your feet

[nvan_football]

my coach has told me to juggle barefoot and it really has helped me alot. It gives u a real feel for the ball on your feet
Yeah, it not only gives you a much better feel of the ball, it's also much harder to juggle barefooted than in shoes. When I wear boots I can juggle about 80-100 times with my feet, but when I do it barefooted, I can hardly reach 30-40.

[usasoccerhooligan]

i've also heard that training barefoot is better conditioning. supposedly when you are running barefoot, you change your running style unconsciously for the better. it's said to correlate to more muscle growth than running in shoes. not sure if this is true, but that's just what i've heard.

[nvan_football]

i've also heard that training barefoot is better conditioning. supposedly when you are running barefoot, you change your running style unconsciously for the better. it's said to correlate to more muscle growth than running in shoes. not sure if this is true, but that's just what i've heard.
That's exactly why Nike made those "free" trainers - they can be bent in any direction and rolled up very easily so they don't interrupt in your natural running technique.

[Nixon]

That's exactly why Nike made those "free" trainers - they can be bent in any direction and rolled up very easily so they don't interrupt in your natural running technique.

Yer basically removes all the support a shoe/boot would normally give you forcing your foot to do the extra work. Increases the foots/lower legs natural spring. Id advise it on a tread mill.

[eplkewell]

I always play all summer barefoot. The only problem is getting used to wearing cleats again once the season starts.

[Twilliger]

Interesting idea - at the beach is the only barefoot soccer I play. It does amaze me how much easier the footwork is - rolls and turns. If it is easier, then it doesn't make much sense to use it for training because then you could goof it up when it counts. But juggling and shooting present a greater barefoot challenge and might be worth practising barefoot - I am gonna give it a go.

[DCSharksFC]

def helps with power, and adding muscle, launching a ball from the top of the 18 barefoot, put cleats on, and you don't think twice about the added force with the cleat

does wonders for your ball skills too, especially your touch, if you're in front of a defender, feeling the ball is better than looking down for it, and it def helps with passing

the better you feel the ball, the ball your touch is, the better passing you get, the better shots you take, makes you a better player

also, barefoot with smaller size balls, like size 3's, helps too

[Factorial]

Absolutely.

Western Canada here, so not that much opportunity to play soccer in the summer, so messing around with a ball in my backyard to kill time, barefoot of course, is sometimes one of the few options. That said, playing barefoot defintely improved my shooting and dribbling, and pretty much every "foot" based skill I have.