How to Develop Use of Both Feet in Youth Soccer Players

Soccer is a two-footed game. Although children naturally gravitate toward using one foot, it is extremely important to actively encourage the use of both feet.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Soccer Balls
• Soccer balls

1. Narrow in on the task. Play games that require using the nondominant foot only.

2. Practice shooting with the nondominant foot. In informal games, award more points for use of that foot.

3. Alternate the sides on which you defend players, thus forcing them to use both feet.

4. Encourage a right-footed child to play the left side of the field, or vice versa, in games or practice, which puts the focus on the nondominant foot.

5. Make sure your child's coach works on developing both feet, in part by playing children on both sides of the field.

6. Give extra praise when a player uses, or attempts to use, the nondominant foot. Say, "I like the way you played that ball with your left (or right) foot."

7. Refer to the nonpreferred foot as the "other" foot, not as the "weak" or "bad" foot.

8. Be patient. It is a challenging task to become skilled at using both feet.

Tips & Warnings

• Be willing to help. You do not need a soccer background to play with a child.
• Be enthusiastic. If you show an interest, a child will want to work with you.
• Suggest, don't insist. Parents should practice only if children are interested and enthusiastic.
• Use positive encouragement. Tell children what they do right, and how they may do even better. Avoid negative criticism.
• Learn some games and exercises. You can do this by reading books or by watching your child in practice.
• Integrate skills into daily life. Use opportunities such as waiting at the school bus stop or playing in the backyard to practice skills.
• Watch experienced players or professional games together. Point out to your child how players are fluent with both feet.
• Find a mentor. An older player (or sibling) makes for a good threesome, or even twosome. You can also learn by watching.

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on 8/8/2006 You should always practice keeping the ball up. This is probably the best exercise you can perform to get high control of the ball. Even if you are a beginner or already a competitive player.

It's always better to use a small ball, and make sure you use both feet right and left. I used to keep a small ball up the air ( size 2) just for fun whenever I had free time. Do it inside the house, and when you are able to keep it up at a consistent pace, you'll know you have improved your overall control over the ball.

Overall tip-

Always use your other foot, and then use whatever possible to keep the ball up - feet, knees, chest, head even your shoulders. Use the sides of your feet when you gain better control. Practice these as much as you can during any free time and it will make you more familiar with the ball.

on 11/22/2005 When using both feet in soccer you have to accept that you have two different feet (meaning that they both have different characteristics). Everyone's different in that area. In my case, my left foot was my angle shot foot (because I only used it to shoot on appropriate angles). This was only because it was psychologically easier to curve a ball with that foot. Although I could get a good sweeping curve with that foot, accuracy wasn't my strong point. That's what I had my "natural" foot for. My right foot was my power shot foot. I could rely on that foot to send a hard shot into the net with decent accuracy to where I was aiming. Each player should experiment with both feet to see which foot best suits them for each task (relative to their playing positions and natural foot preferences).

on 11/22/2005 To encourage an accomplished player to use his/her weaker leg, training with only 1 shoe on the weaker foot encourages increased use and is very effective. This is a well used method used by many European coaches.