How to Chip a Soccer Ball

The shortest distance between you and your teammate may be a straight line, but defenders sometimes don't cooperate. So, send a flying ball that's easy for your teammate to get hold of.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Soccer Apparel
• Soccer Cleats
• Soccer Shin Guards
• Soccer Uniforms
• Soccer Videos
• soccer balls

1. Understand that a 'chip' is when the soccer ball travels in a tall arc. Usually a quick kick is used to send the ball up and over a short distance, rather than in a long, soaring flight.

2. Approach the ball at a slight angle.

3. Place your nonkicking foot approximately 6 inches to the side of the ball and slightly behind it.

4. Take a back swing with your kicking leg, keeping in mind that a shorter back swing will allow you more control and better placement.

5. Angle your toe down - imagine your foot to be wedgelike - as you make contact with the ball below its center.

6. Lean your body back as you kick to increase the lift of the ball. The farther you lean back, the greater the ball's arc.

Tips & Warnings

• A proper chip should have backspin, which makes it easy for your teammate to control. A ball spinning backward is less likely to run away from the receiver once contact is made.
• Use a chip as a goal shot if you wish. If the goalkeeper has come out to cut down the angle of your shot, chipping the ball over his head is a good technique for scoring a goal.
• Be comfortable chipping with both feet, and chipping dead balls as well as moving ones.

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[Cafa]

on 8/15/2007 Lifting a ball can be done with a moving ball. Just get your foot under the ball, and twist it upwards.

on 8/8/2006 Since the goalkeeper is not only the last line of defense, but the first line of offense, they have to be able to get the ball to their players no matter what the situation. Being a goalie myself, I know the importance of this.

If the opposing player shoots the ball wide, and you get the ball, and want to use a chip, use as long a stride as possible, or use your judgment depending on where your players are. Strike the ball right underneath the bottom of the ball, and depending on the length of the shot you want, use a short or log follow-through. Works about 8 out of 10 times. I can only make suggestions, I can not force anybody to do this. This is just what has helped me, and if you want to become a better player, you have to do what helps you.

on 8/8/2006 To get more lift, follow through with your leg after you have made contact with the ball.

on 3/8/2006 It can easily frustrate people when they cant chip the ball first time, but the best method is to simply let the ball roll along the ground, toward you. Then as it comes near you, use the top-instep of your foot (the area between your big toe, going about 5 inches up your foot) so that instead of 'chipping' the ball with toes pointed down, you're slicing the bottom of the ball with your instep. When I do it, I imagine it's like taking a golf swing. This is a really good technique for one-on-ones when you're not in-front of the ball and cant chip it, so you go round the keeper, and swing it in. Remember, you have to be facing the ball on an angle to do this.

on 1/2/2006 You want to hit down hard underneath the ball, so that your foot hits the ground and stays were the ball was. Use your foot like a wedge. A chip is not a swing with the leg, but a small, short, hard hit.