The Aiming Foot: How to Kick the Ball Exactly Where You Want It

Imagine you are aiming a bow and arrow. To hit the target, you have to point the arrow in the right direction. You cannot just pull the string back, close your eyes, and hope for the best.

In soccer, your kicking foot is like the bowstring. It provides the power. But your other foot—the plant foot—is the arrow. Wherever that foot points, the ball will go.

If you want to make perfect passes and score more goals, you need to learn how to use your "Aiming Foot."

How to Set Up Your Aiming Foot

The plant foot is the foot you do not kick with. It is the foot you step on right next to the ball just before you swing your kicking leg.

Many players only think about their kicking foot. They worry about using their laces or the inside of their foot. But if your plant foot is pointing toward the parking lot, your kick will go toward the parking lot too.

To make a perfect pass or shot, follow these three steps:

• Point your toes. Look at your teammate. Now, step next to the ball and point the toes of your plant foot directly at them.
• Leave some space. Do not step too close to the ball. Leave about one hand-width of space between your plant foot and the side of the ball. If you step too close, you will trip over your own feet. If you step too far away, you will have to stretch and will lose your balance.
• Bend your knee. Keep your plant leg slightly bent. This keeps you stable. If your leg is straight and stiff like a wooden post, you will fall over when you kick.

When you do these three things, your body naturally aligns with your target. This makes it easy for your kicking leg to swing straight through the ball.

Two Big Plant Foot Mistakes to Avoid

Even players on high school and college teams make mistakes with their plant foot. Watch out for these two common errors during your next practice.

1. The Lazy Arrow

This happens when you are running fast. You want to pass the ball to your teammate on the right, but you are rushing. Your plant foot points straight ahead because you did not take the time to turn it. When you kick, the ball slices to the side or goes out of bounds.

The Fix: Think about your plant foot first. Slow down just a tiny bit before you kick so you can place your plant foot exactly where you want it.

2. The Backwards Lean

If you step too far behind the ball, your body will lean backward when you kick. This makes the ball fly high into the air. If you are trying to shoot a goal, the ball will probably go over the crossbar.

The Fix: Place your plant foot right next to the middle of the ball, not behind it. This keeps your chest over the ball and keeps your shot low and powerful.

How to Practice This Today

You do not need a team to practice your aiming foot. You only need a ball and a wall.

Stand five steps away from the wall. Take a step and plant your foot. Point your toes directly at a spot on the wall and kick.

Did the ball hit your target? If it did not, look down at your feet. Where is your plant foot pointing? Adjust your toes so they point at the wall, and try again.

Do this ten times with your right foot and ten times with your left foot every day. Soon, your plant foot will aim automatically, and your passes will always find your teammates.