Soccer Skills with Super Mac
In our new section, former U.S. WNT star Shannon MacMillan, is here to help you improve your soccer skills. She will break down various techniques and explain how you should perform them properly, offer some handy tips and explain how you cna practice to be perfect. We start with something Mac was famous for – that thunderous shot and ability to center the ball with pace and accuracy!
Striking the Ball With Power
The key to striking the ball with power has more to do with having
a good technique than having a strong leg. If you have a strong leg
but a poor technique, you won't transfer your power to the ball
efficiently. The following are some tips to help improve your
technique which will help you get more power behind the ball.
The basic technique you need to focus on is keeping your ankle
locked with your toe pointed so you can strike the ball with your
laces. You want to get the ball out from under your body so you can
get a full extension with your leg. You also want to follow through
after you strike the ball. Try to land on your shooting foot. A good
leg extension and following through will help you transfer your power
to the ball.
Also, it’s important to keep your head down and your eye on the ball.
That, along with keeping your chest and knee over the ball will help
you keep the ball low.
Developing a good technique requires a lot of repetition.
Whenever you are around the ball, whether it is before training or
just at the park with a friend or sibling, you should work on the above
at least 30 times with each leg. The more you practice the better your
technique will get which means the more power you will get behind the
ball. The more power you can get, the better your crosses will get and
the more opposing keepers will dread facing your shot!