How to Do a Bicycle Kick in Soccer

It's glitzy. It's glamorous. It will always be Pele's move and the rest of the world's to imitate.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Soccer Balls
• Soccer balls

1. Keep your back to the target and your eyes on the ball.

2. Bring the knee of your non-kicking leg toward your chest followed immediately with the same motion of your kicking leg. The movement of your legs will appear as if you're pedaling a bicycle backwards.

3. Extend your kicking leg to meet the ball while you're airborne and falling backwards.

4. Pedaling down with your non-kicking leg, kick through the ball.

5. Pull your toes back so your ankle makes a right angle as you connect with the ball.

6. Extend both arms and your palms facing the ground behind you to brace yourself.

7. Watch the knee of your kicking leg until you're on the ground to insure that you don't hit your head.

Tips & Warnings

• Comparisons to Pele won't be immediate. This kick takes practice to learn.

• If you increase the speed of the pedaling motion, the force of the kick increases.

• There's a lot of timing involved, so don't get discouraged if it takes a while to do this kick.

• Practice on a soft surface like a tumbling mat or your bed to learn how it feels to fall doing a bicycle kick. If you're a kid, it's probably not a bad idea to ask your parents before you start jumping on the bed.

• If you have any condition which would impair or limit your ability to engage in physical activity, please consult a physician before attempting this activity. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.