Because most soccer coaches do not understand the mechanics of the basic skills they tend to work on playing the game rather than how to most effectively execute the skills or develop the related physical qualities. As a result many youngsters do not show fast progress in improving their abilities, become “uninterested” and eventually give up the game. Although much lip service is given to the development of skills, it usually does not amount to much. Most athletes learn to be fairly successful mainly through trial and error in kicking and/or running and cutting actions and thus, become better players. Following are some guidelines that parents, coaches and players can use to help improve kicking skills and to prevent injury. Understand that there are two basic patterns used to kick a ball. However, there are at least 15 different locations on the foot that are used for different shots (different results), but not different kicks. For example, making contact with the ball on the inside of the foot along the long edge of the shoe and inside ankle bone is mainly used for passing. It is not considered a true kicking action. The large surface created by the foot in this position gives greater control and makes it easier to direct the ball to a specific spot. In contrast to this, kicking the ball with the toe of the shoe uses a very small surface area of the shoe. Because of this the kick is quite erratic and as a result is rarely used in soccer or football. For a goal kick or when kicking for distance or power, most effective is to make contact on the in-step of the foot. This means that the ball should make contact on the laces of the shoe or the area slightly below and/or above the laces. To create such contact it is necessary to point the toe downward and slightly inward when kicking. But, when you are standing on one leg and bring your leg forward with the toe pointed down, you invariably hit the ground. Thus, it is necessary to lean to the outside over and away from the support leg to give clearance for the kicking leg to come through. This requires additional balance and physical strength to maintain this side leaning position which if not possessed, sometimes leads to injury when the foot makes contact with the ground. Kicking with the inside of the foot can also create problems, especially when trying to kick far or hard. Effective kicking requires not only rotation of the pelvis, but strong muscle actions at the hip and knee joints. When first placing the support leg in contact with the ground, the kicking leg should be well behind the body. As the thigh moves forward into the kick the knee should bend so that the shin is level or slightly above level with the ground. The thigh decelerates and stops when it is in front of the body and the shin swings forward in a leg extending action to allow the foot to contact the ball. After contact, the entire leg swings upward. To bring in more pelvic girdle rotation, approach the ball from the side. Then when you plant the support leg alongside the ball, the pelvic girdle rotates forward to bring the hips in line with the target and allow effective leg actions to occur. During contact and in the follow-through the shoulders rotate to the opposite side to limit the pelvic girdle rotation so that accuracy is preserved. If you do not have the ability to keep the leg well behind the body as the support leg is planted, do exercises such as the classic long lunge. Take a long step while maintaining the trunk in an erect position. Then slowly sink directly downward so that you stretch the hip flexors and connective tissue around the rear hip joint. This exercise develops greater strength and flexibility of the hip joint muscles as well as greater strength of the knee. Use dumbbells or a barbell in the lunge, and to make the exercise more specific use a hip belt as in the Total Athlete System Set™. Take a forceful step forward and work up to a leap in the lunge. For the mid-section, the reverse trunk twist is very important for developing the flexibility and abdominal strength needed to effectively rotate the hips forward and the shoulders backward.Use the Total Athlete System™ for the knee extension needed to contact the ball. Hold the thigh in front of the body and then straighten the leg against the cord resistance. To enhance hip rotation it is important to do exercises with Active Cords, rotating the hips against resistance or to do medial and lateral hip rotations with the Active Cords in a seated position. For more exercises to strengthen the leg and hip muscles see Women’s Soccer: Using Science to Improve Speed.