Kicking

SocGol kicking techniques range from basic shooting and passing skills up to advanced techniques, such as bending the ball around a wall.

The instep, the part of the foot where the laces are, provides both power and control. The most common mistake made by beginners is to use the toe, but it is terribly inaccurate. The advantage of the instep is that it presents a flat surface to the ball, and can also be used to make the ball swerve and dip.

The non-kicking foot provides support, and should be bent as you kick. When we want to keep the ball on the ground, the head is down, over the ball. The follow-through should be long and smooth, and another useful tip is to approach the kick slightly from the side whenever possible.

This basic SocGol kicking technique is often overlooked, because it is so simple. The real skill is being able to kick accurately whilst under pressure, and it is far more important to consistently excel at this basic skill than to be able to perform fancy tricks.

Lofted Kick

The lofted kick is used to play the long ball and cross the ball over hazards. Apart from the chip, used for short-range kicks, this is the only technique for lifting the ball into the air with real power.

This SocGol skill uses the instep as for the basic kicking technique, but it is important to strike low down on the ball to generate lift, and to lean back slightly. Beginners sometimes find it difficult to balance properly, and it is important not to fall too far to the side as you kick. Using the non-kicking foot as a firm anchor, and putting your opposite arm out for balance will help. Another useful tip is to try to place the non-kicking foot slightly in front of the ball instead of level with it.

It is important to obtain distance from your kick as well as height. Do not just kick the ball as high as possible. The object is to kick the ball high enough to clear any obstacles, but extra height is not necessary.

Bending the Ball

Bending or swerving the ball is one of the most exciting SocGol kicking techniques. This skill is important in many areas of SocGol, such as shots at gol around defenders and passing the ball around obstacles.

There are two main methods, namely using the outside of the foot to swerve the ball away from you, or using the inside of the foot to bend the ball inwards. Swerve is produced by kicking the ball off center on the opposite side to the side you want the ball to swerve to. For example, if you want to bend the ball from right to left with your right foot, you make contact with the ball on the right side using the inside of your foot. To make the ball bend away from you from left to right, kick the ball on the left side using the outside of your foot. A tip for improving your skill using the inside of the foot is to swivel on your non-kicking foot as you kick the ball, but this movement should not be exaggerated.

The Chip

The chip is a SocGol kicking technique used to quickly lift the ball over short distances, for example, to pass the ball over an obstacle, or to lift the ball into the gol area from a few meters away. The disadvantage of the chip over the lofted kicking technique is that it lacks power. The advantage is the backspin generated from this method causes the ball to slow down on hitting the ground. This is especially useful when the ball is passed into a confined area, such as near the gol area.

The chip uses a stabbing or chopping motion in which the lower part of the foot, but not the toe, makes contact low down on the ball. The knee of the kicking foot is bent, and high at the end of the follow-through. As for the lofted kick, it is best to lean back slightly, but with the head down looking at the ball. A useful tip is to place the non-kicking foot slightly behind the ball.