Instep drive, locking in the foot, contact position

[ramseszerg]

Hi, I'm new to soccer, and been a month or so searching and reading these forums, and haven't seen a whole thread on this specific topic:

I have a big foot, and when I do the instep (shoelaces) drive, I don't lean sideways enough I think and end up hitting the ball with the lower part of my foot, closer to my toes. I saw someone on these boards saying that's not wrong. Is it wrong or not? If it is wrong and you are supposed to use the level of your ankle, good. If that is correct, it leads me to my next question.

If it is correct, and the ball is not supposed to injure your ankle/lower leg muscles because of the foot lock-in you're supposed to do, I see two problems with that I don't understand. 1) no matter how hard you lock in your foot, the ball will have to make contact with the foot, and the reaction pair of the force you impart on the ball will be imparted back onto your foot, hyperextending your foot and injuring it. 2) the lock in position anatomically is less stable than the "pseudo-flexed position" (when you naturally pull your foot back)

Enlightenment at this point to this newbie would b greatly appreciated.


http://photos.jpgmag.com/208322_83811_c08c8d83ef_p.jpg

[GKbenji]

Hitting the ball closer to your toes isn't "wrong", but it is a slightly different technique. I've heard a ball struck just at the joint of the toe/foot called a "Brazilian three-toed" shot, where the contact is just at the base of the three middle toes--such a drive stays low and can spin and knuckle very effectively, but it's not an instep drive.

A true instep drive contacts the ball roughly just below the hard bone on top of your foot (anatomically speaking (http://www.podiatrychannel.com/pod/Images/tn_ftbns_tpvw.gif), on the first/second metatarsal just below the cuneiform bones). This contact spot, higher up the foot, decreases the force that might lead to hyperextension. Then your foot is best kept in line with the shin or turned very slightly outwards, which gives you a better angle to lock your ankle for strength. The picture you posted shows the ankle turned inward, which will definitely not be stable enough for a good instep drive. Yes, the ankle is extended, but if done correctly--right ankle position and contacting the correct spot on your foot--there is little chance of injury.

If you want to see a good video showing correct form, see JB Goalkeeping: Goal Kicks (http://www.jbgoalkeeping.com/distribute.html#goalkick) and click on the movie icon on the left.

[Antonio81]

For starters, no ball, no matter how hard, should injure anyone's foot. The ankle muscle is one of the most important ones to stretch(and the one everyone seems to forget.)

[m4k-10]

I think that there is nothing wrong with hitting the ball with the lower part of the foot. as GKbenji stated the brazillian technique can work to a good effect. On my last match i hit the ball from 25 yards out with that technique, i hit it with so much power i couldnt even stay on my feet. At first it looked as if it was going sky high out of the field but it dipped towards the end of the flight and unluckily it hit the crossbar:mad:. But the thing is i have not hit a shot like that again. it could just have been a lucky shot but im sure ill learn it again.

At first if you are new to the sport then you just have to keep playing until the muscles in your feet and legs strengthen, because i also had this problem of hyperextending my foot. It went after a while though, i suppose you get used to it.

[polloloco]

Practice makes perfect

[GKbenji]

Practice makes perfect

No, practice makes permanent. Only perfect practice makes perfect.
:D