The Anatomy Of The Goalkick
October 22, 2006
One of my biggest weaknesses as a goalkeeper was my goal kicking technique. There you go, I said it. Every goalkeeper has their own glitches and funnily enough they can be ironed out very easily at a young age. When I was growing up there was no back pass rule. Apart from this I never…ever played in the outfield. What a lethal combination for a goalkeeper playing at an elite junior level as I would find out in the latter stages of my development. Two of the biggest benefits to my kicking game over the past 6 years or so was the development of my leg muscles and playing in the outfield from time to time. Following is a fabulous question from one of our Keeper Skool brethren. I’ve added some scientific studies to help verify the above points I have made for good measure.
Q: Hey there, i’m from Singapore,i’m 19 coming up 20 in a couple of months…i am not a club player but do play weekly..as the keeper of the team..i find that not being able to take a good goal kick is really not making me a “full packaged” keeper..i had to, on several occasions call on my full backs to do the goal-kicks for me…other times, i will just play the ball short to the nearest player…so my question is, Are there ways to make my goal-kicks a good one or maybe the leg power play apart in doing so..?Does leg power alone make a good kick or techniques come in the picture??
Hope to hear from u soon…Cheerios..!!
A: What a great question. You’ve actually answered most of it yourself without realising it. Technique is of pivotal importance. Actually, I am a firm believer that basic technique taught at an early age resonates into the later stages of goalkeeping development. Basic kicking technique should be a staple of every training session for the competitive goalkeeper. In fact, goalkeeping technique does not change dramatically for a goalkeeper in the later phases of their development. This leads onto your second question about leg power. I’ve said it on numerous occasions, the thing that differentiates a good goalkeeper from a great goalkeeper (apart from natural ability) at a higher level of play are their use of good strength training techniques and power development.
The following study points to one of the most powerful words that a goalkeeper will ever learn “momentum”.
“The momentum of the kicking foot and leg is the product of the mass of the leg and the velocity of the foot at impact, plus the velocity of the body as the player approaches the ball. The greater the mass of the leg, and the greater the velocity of the foot at impact, the greater the resultant velocity of the ball at impact.
From the point of view of biochemically principles in kicking the ball, the velocity production of the ball can be evaluated according to the conservation of the linear momentum in collision. The action of the ankle can increase the release velocity of the ball a little. Through elastic collision, linear momentum transfers partly to the ball. The bigger is the leg mass the higher the ball velocity. The point of application must be inside the effective hitting area, which depends on the tension in the ankle.”
The acceleration of the kicking leg, and the resultant velocity at impact, is determined by the muscle forces being applied by the kicker. It has been reported that the speed of the ball at impact was directly related to the measured strength of his subjects. (Professor Pekka Luhtanen – Senior Researcher, KIHU Research Institute for Olympic Sports)
So 4 factors play a part in proper goal kicking technique:
1. Momentum
2. Mass Of The leg
3. Velocity Of The Foot At Impact
4. Stabilization Of The ankle.
Thanks again for your awesome question, hope this helps all of our Keeper Skool readers.
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Hey, I’m a 13 yr old keeper. I am quite good, even though I only started at the age of 11! Any way, my main problem is – I think this is it any way! – that I always dive. I mean, it feels like its to easy juist moving and catching, and so I end up being to spectacular, and let in some really embaresing things I could have easily have just caught. How much of a bad habit am i gettin into? Is it gd to do that coz it helps practice my dive d’you think?
It is a pretty bad habit Mark. When I was growing up my trainer always taught me to use footwork to get your body behind the ball, and that is the most difficult thing. Anyone can dive, but utilizing footwork to get behind the ball is extremely difficult, and takes a lot of practice.
Hi, i’m 15 and in my school team theirs this dumb kid, who has first place as a keeper. so i cort him ‘acsidently’ wen he woznt looking in the shin. he hert imself well badly and i played about four matches wowwoohoo! probs is hes better and back in 2moro. shud i get im agen? and wot is the best way to get sum1 out for abowt, i dunno, a month?
Ur m8 Robbo
I am 16, keeper for a under 17s team. Am the starting keeper but i have a serious problem with my goalkicks. It is embarassing, i have good leg muscles and am strong generally, i am good at every aspect of keeping and kicking (kicks out of hands, throws etc) but wen i kick i have problems. I can sometimes get a great kick to clear half way line, sometimes i get no height on the ball and i only get it to half way between 18yrds and half way lne, sometimes i get loads of height but only get it to between 18yds and halfwayline, what am i doing wrong?
Brian, remember that strength, power, and technique are everythign when it comes to goalk kicks. But most importantly repetition. Locking your ankle and following through the ball are also very important. Visualizing where you want to kick the ball can also help.
Also, how about you start kicking against a wall to begin with, just so you get your technique and feel for the ball right. Then, set up some markers across the distance of the field. Make those markers your visiual que, and then kick to those points on the field.
Practice back passes with a partner, and clearnaces as well…hope this gives you some indication?
Hi, I’m Jackie and I’m 13. I was just wondering, everytime my teamate passes me the ball to make a goal,which is right in front of me, and I kick the ball, I end up having the soccerball moving very slowly and spining around and around as if it were a top (and it doesn’t end up as a goal). Is there somethimg I’m doing wrong in my kicking the soccer ball?
Hi, It’s mark again, I know this isn’t about goalkicks, but I dnt know where else to ask it. I am 13 and a keeper, and i realy am dedicated, I’ve become really good (Not meaning to sound big headed!) but I really think I could make it one day. Now i know most people dream of stuff like this and it never happens, but what about all the people who it does work out for? Can you give me any top tips on how to succeed in the footie world?
Mark P.S By the way you never told us in this sight who you support, I’m a bristol City fan, come on you reds!
Hi Jackie. I suggest that you get a ball, and just practice running at it and striking it. Once you’ve worked out what part of your foot you are mst comfortable kicking with, get a friend to pass it to you and practice running onto the moving ball, and hit it. Also, remember, it’s not always you who’s doing something wrong, if the pass has to much spin on it, it can make it hard to kick straight. Please write again if you have any more queries
Hi Mark. It’s a very interesting point you have brought up. How do you succeed? I have to be honest with you, there is not just one straight answer to this question, but if you want to succeed at anything in life, you must try try try and try again. If you aim high you could hit the top, but if you aim low you can never hit the top. Think big and you could get big. Also, I for one believe that not only do you have to train ALL the time to get success but you have THINK big all the time. I hope this helps you out, and good look with it. Please write again if you have any more queries
P.S I’m a massive Doncaster Rovers fan.
Hi viewers, I would just like to tell you all, that I have changed this into not only a goalkeeping tips chat room, but for anything football related. Whether it’s about your team, the premiership or championship or even league 1. Basically, if u want to chat about footie, go ahead!
John Stevanja
Hi,
My names Damien.
Im 21 years old playing at quite a high level.
I was just Reading through this, i thought i would ask for your advice.
Being a goalkeeper, kicking was always one of my biggest weaknesses. I was always really small growing up so i put a lot if down to this.
As i got older, my kicking got really good, in fact at the age of 18/19 i was kicking the ball from my 6 yard line,60+ yards without even wacking it.
Its strange, but as ive got older, my kicking ability has declined dramatically!
Its not a question of power, as my leg muscles(i believe) are really strong.
I do as much practice as i can, but i just cant seem to get the kicking right anymore.
I’m only kicking the ball halfway line, maybe just over at best, and thats poor considering.
I’ve tried a smaller run up, a longer run up, placing it, really wacking it, but nothing is working.
Another strange thing is in training sometimes im kicking well, then im not. Then games is just woeful.
I want to be like David james where, he doesn’t even put his foot through the ball and it goes 70/80 yards.
Is there anything you can suggest? I’ve read all the tips you have given to other people, i have asked a goalkeeper coach to help me do you think he can help?
Many thanks
Damien
Damien, If anything, with age your kicking should become better. Is it because of some injury that you can’t kick with distance any longer?
Sometimes you have to factor in things such as climate and terrain. Sometimes in rainy conditions you may not get full grip around the ball when you kick. When it is windy, resistance can come into play. If the playing field is not even, then sometimes this can effect the kick. There are many other factors.
I think it comes down to technique most of all, and repetition of proper technique, as mentioned on some articles here throughout the site can help as well. You should consider a coach, even a kicking coach (someone who specializes in effective kicking technique) if you can find one.
Let me know how you go.
Hi again
I’ve searched high and wide for a kicking specialist..but couldn’t find one.
An old manager has put me in touch with a goalkeeper coach, but this coach has only just got the goalkeeper coaching badge so im worried he might not know too much.
I just think it will be good to have somebody watching me one on one who will see if/where im going wrong.
i did have two recent injuries.
One to the back of my knee, and one to my ankle which were both quite bad.
They caused a disadvantage to my kicking, as i was always conscious of it, and if i miskicked (which believe me, i seem to do regularly now!) then my ankle would really hurt.
Both of those injuries have gone now though, but i still cant seem to get it right.
I will send you another one tomorrow after training, where i will get some kicking in if were not in the gym.
It is really quite frustrating and a bit upsetting, as its the only area of my game that i know is causing me a problem.
Before, it was great knowing i could set up a good attack, or at least kick it almost as far as i wanted, now each time i get a goal kick, im having to struggle to kick it half way!
Height of kicks is a problem too, i used to get the ball real high, which was better.
Many thanks and speak soon
Damien.
Damien, you have to remember that great keepers such as David James when picking up injuries such as the ones you have just spoke about, have all sorts of medics and fitness instructeors to nurse them back. In my opinion, it seems that perhaps after sustaining these injurries, you maybe struggled on?? Does it still give you troubles now pains aches ect.?
About your new coach, give him a chance at least, I’m sure he is capable, and if you feel he isn’t after maybe a few weeks, look for another one. Also, it is very likely that maybe you miskicked a few – a bad game maybe – and then got self conscious about the matter. the more you focus on what you’re doing the more of a deal it becomes. Just assume you can kick it 60 yard, and forget about it. Also Damien it isn’t all about the distance. If you can play a good ball onto the wing or to a free midfielder, it can be better than just wellying it straight to the defence. Start focusing on your aim a little more. Hope i’ve helped?
keep me posted,
Hi again John.
Your right about the professionals, they have it easy!
What i would do to train everyday, be able to work so close to somebody for 4/5 hours a day!
The injuries were definatly massive hinderances, as like i said i was really conscious of it each time i kicked due to the pain it was giving me.
And for sometime after it was still there, like i could go into the game not feeling the injury, but a poor kick would bring back the pain of it.
I have noted what you said about visualising the ball going 60+ yards and that will help it to go there. I used to do this, when playing semi professional i could pick out any player, no matter how far they were away and the ball would be all but to them, now its more hope but yes i am going to try this on saturday.
Saturday i am playing for a team i help in a lower league as my team don’t have a fixture, i will see how my kicking is during that game and get back to you.
I haven’t done any work at all with this keeper coach yet, im waiting for him to call me back but yes, i will definatly give him a chance i am prepared to do anything to improve my kicking.
Even if i(which im preying i can) manage to get my kicking back to how it was, it would still be nice to maybe improve it even 10%, but as i said at the moment im really struggling to even better the half way line!
Hopefully it is like you mentioned a case of the injury playing on my mind, but i have no pressure at all this saturday so will be a massive test for me.
Is there a way i can email you via an email address? Its just i dont want to fill your site up with my problems!
If you have an alternative account my email is doomer17@hotmail.com, otherwise i will post back here.
Many thanks John, this help is really appreciated.
Damien.
Don’t worry Damien, I prefare to post to you over my site, it is good for new readers to get an idea as to how i can help them if you see what i’m saying. Hope your match goes well. Keep in mind the advice I gave you and get back to me and hopefully I can give you more pointers. Hope you don’t mind me asking but what team do you play for?
Good evening John,
Tonight i worked briefly with the goalkeeper coach.
I have to say it went excellent!
Into the wind, i was kicking the ball over 50 yards.
He started by talking me through exactly how i should be striking the ball,then practising the technique, kicking it against a wall.
Then, we moved on to seeing how far it went, and as i said, it went really, really well!
Its put me in a great mood now!
He was excellent, showed me exactly what i should be doing and gave me some tips on what to do to help, which have worked.
We only worked for about half an hour, but it was plenty of time.
Hes told me to do another session by myself this week, and then to call him and let him know how it goes, so fingers crossed!
He also said, like you, that the poor kicking was down to the injury, and explained what was happening due to the knee injury.
Could be good news if its consistent!
Many thanks
Damien
Congratulations damien and good luck in your future.
hi im 13 turning 14 and im crap at goal kicking. I can only kick the ball 5- 10 m outside the box im skinny, slim and i need to know how to position my body.
Hey Sean, much of the above advice will help, also have a look at some of our other articles in the search link near our logo at the top of the page. We also have a newsletter archive that you can refer to.
Don’t be initmidated by not being able to kick the ball well. Goalkicking is something that takes much time and development.
Apart from technique, you should also start looking at some basic weight training to help not only strengthen the legs, but add lean muscle to the leg, which will allow you to add more power to your kicking, without all the effort.
Let us know how you go.
Hey,
My name is Noah, I’m from Houston and I play on a club team here. I’ve only been playing soccer for about 9 months of my life (actually I just woke up one day last year and decided to try out lol) and I fell in love with playing Keeper. Because I’ve been playing basketball my entire life, the handling part I’ve got down. I’ve been working like a mad man to get better and better and I’ve gotten to the point where I’m making a great impression with the higher teams and our club. My Keeper coach came to me and said that the only thing holding me back from moving up is my "god-awful goalkicking"! So I’m trying really hard to work on that. My question is two-part: Is locking the ankle while kicking necessary and if so what can I do to train my self to do so?
Great question. Locking the ankle is important, and it really comes down to repetition.
Strength training around the ankle is a little difficult.
I’ve been toying with the idea for sometime, to strap my ankle (of my kicking foot) so that it has some rigidity before during the kicking motion during a goalkick.
But really apart from the above post, locking the ankle forms a part of the process of the goalkicking technique, and I believe that it takes repetition alongside solid strength training to master the goalkick.
Let us know how you go.
ummm i cant get my leg high enough for me to put enough power to be put into the kick what can i do. Is there any exercise i can do
Thanks for this page.
I have only just started playing again after a break of 7 years, i played at all levels apart for England between the age of 10-15 and goal kicks were always a effort for me as i was small for my age and had short legs.
I am making my début tomorrow for a local team, i was having a little bit of a crisis since i have been training again(on astroturf) i have been having a few problems!!!
I am going to try the tips on here and hopefully things will improve!!!
Peter G