Dead Ball opportunities are golden opportunities to punish opponents, the best players will almost never waste them…
Contents:
1. Direct Free Kicks
Free Kick Essential Skills
Pin Point Accuracy
Curl
Dip
Knuckle Swerve
Power
Deception
Putting them Together
Your Free Kick Technique
Menatally
2. Penalties
Main Pointers
Confidence
3. Delivering the Ball into the box
Corners
Tactics
Kick Taking Tactic’s
Tactic’s in the Box
Throw in’s
Free Kicks
4. Drills
1. Direct Free Kicks
Its very common for free kicks to break the deadlock in close games…
But in saying that free kicks are a fantastic way to score, but people under estimate how difficult it is to be good at set piece’s
Scoring directly from a free kick is the hardest of them all…
Free Kick Essential Skills:
First of all to take free kicks you must first know how to preform the type of kick your trying expertly... learn to walk before you run basically...
also you must be prepared to practice them LOADS, as free kick oppurtinites come probably once in a match
Obviously you should always aim for corners
But the problem about shooting for corners is there is a wall of people protecting one side of the goal, and the keeper protecting the other side…
You must learn how to get the ball past the wall and into the unprotected net
First you must decide which type of kicking technique you are best or most comfortable with when kicking, here's in this guide is a list of kick techniques:
NewBornProdigy's Striking Guide
Distance: These are guidelines (You don’t have to follow these)
18-24 yards: you should concentrate dipping the ball over the wall and getting the ball in one of the corners, this would beat most keepers
25-30 yards: curl and power, a good solid ball contact would see most of these shots on target
31+ yards: Mainly power as a good ball contact will deliver the accuracy
Curling and Dipping Angles:
Akward Angles: should have curl most importantly
Direct Angles: Should have dip, preferably late dip
Tee Up’s:
Get one player to lay the ball off to another player (who should be good at shooting from range and have lots of power)
Credit to Jdefoe:
Jdefoe's Free Kick Guide
These are the base skills all dead ball specialist’s must have, usually a good free kick will have two or three of these attributes:
Pin Point Accuracy:
All free kicks should be accurate, but when I say pin point I mean ‘absolutely inch perfect scraping the bar as it goes in’ accurate…
This is possibly the most important attribute for a free kick to have
Curl:
The ability to curve the ball sidewards (either way) usually by putting spin on the ball, this can be very effective and can leave keepers standing watching the ball go in…
This is most commonly used to curl it around the side of the wall
when following through try to enlongating contact with the ball by making your foot follow through in the direction you want it ti curl or dip
always postion yourself looking slightly to one side of your target, aim your kick slighlty outside of the post (or slightly inside the post) so it curls into the corner...
Dip:
This is the one thing that most players find hardest to apply to their set piece’s and it is and extremely effective way to fool a keeper or get a shot on target…
Learning back and putting your support foot slightly behind the ball is a simple way to get dip…
but you should experiment with different support foot postions and leans, and paticulary different ball contacts
Credit klc123: (I found this a very useful tutorial for dipping)
Klc123's Topspin Tutorial
Knuckle Swerve:
This is an extremely challenging kicking style to learn, you should learn the instep drive then the standard knuckle shot before you attempt this as a free kick
This is how C. ronaldo strikes his free kicks, it is when the ball travels (very hard and fast) through the air while spinning very little (when hit perfect, it doesn't spin at all) and with the right contact and follow through the ball will suddenly ‘drop’ real quick out of the air, and hopefully into the net
watch it closely:
Ronaldo versus Portsmouth
Also if you get good at it you can learn how to make the ball swerve left or right (and sometimes both ways in the same kick!!!) but you have to sacrifice some of the amazing dip to make the ball curl laterally…
to do this you must strike the ball more to one side of your foot, more to the outside for outside swerve, more to the side of the foot for inside swerve (and one side of the middle of the ball) and you will make the ball spin once or twice in the air, which will make it shoot off in that direction
check out these video's:
Ronaldo FreeKick Complation
(look very closley at ronaldo's freekick that leads to the goal, you will see the ball swerve's right then suddenly left)
Ronaldo FreeKick versus Tottenham
This skill is extremely difficult to pull off so you must be very dedicated to practice it, as the results are worth it
Knuckle Shot:
This is a very unique style of kick
all it is, is an instep drive (or even a certain few different kick techniques) that is struck so beautifully it does not spin in the air, this is down to striking the ball bang in the centre and because the ball is not spinning as much, as if there is no spin, there is no wind resistance on the ball, so it travels quicker through the air
it may sound easy but a shot like this is extremly hard to strike
This is extremly difficult to learn and it is advisable you learn the Standard Knuckle Shot before you try this one...
this is basically hitting a knuckle shot but making the ball 'dip' and 'swerve' in the air by applying slow revolutions, which enhance the swerve, also at a very quick speed
this is more about your body movements and how you contact the ball, instead of a complete different technique than the standard knuckle
this is the kick when the ball does barely spins in the air, but it dips fantastically, this is the kick ronaldo use's for his free kick's
here in this guide at the kick technique's section it is better explained how to execute the kick
NewBornProdigy’s Ball Striking Guide
Follow Through
The Follow through is the hardest thing to master in this kick
by rising your knee toward your chin (you chin should be coming down as your leaning over the ball) and have your kicking leg move slightly across your support foot and land on your kicking foot
A little secret about executing the kick
As you place your plant foot you should have your head down, but you should be leaning away from the ball, sidewards and backwards but your upperbody should arch over the ball (you should make a < shape with your upper-body and your kicking leg)… this requires great balance, and should give your leg a clean strike path, then as you strike the ball quickly bring your leg up to meet your chin while keeping your ankle locked for the whole motion…
Sounds complicated but with time (about 6 months to a year) it becomes a lot easier to execute… and trust me the results are worth it (witness C. Ronaldo’s goal vs Portsmouth)
Power:
Basically making you shot really move through the air, this along with accuracy could beat any keeper…
The power of a free kick comes from taking a longer step with your plant foot (when placing your plant foot beside the ball) before you strike the ball… and the quicker you contract the muscles in your leg the more power, but power of a kick will come from a good technique not necisarilly a huge leg (but that help’s)
Deception:
Deception is fooling a keeper to where your shooting on goal
Curling the ball can be a great skill for fooling a keeper and can leave him diving the complete wrong way
Using your weak foot (presuming you have already used your strong foot for a free kick) can completely decive a keeper, but you need to be really good with your weak foot
A few deception tricks:
Get a man so set himself of for you to lay the ball off to, then as the whistle is blown, you (who is supossed to be laying the ball off to the runner) actually swivels and shoots hopefully catching the keeper by surprise…
Or pretending to shoot but you cross into the box…
deceiving the wall into jumping and you kick the ball under it and into the net (very stylish when it works)…
ask the referee can you shoot everytime the keeper tries to organize his wall (you know he starts hugging the post, directing the wall left or right) if he says yes just clip the ball into the far and unprotected corner…
another trick is to get 2 players to line up to strike the ball, the first sprints toward the ball as if to drive it, but then run’s straight past the ball and run’s into a open postion to one side of the wall then the second player run’s up as if to strike the ball but passes to the running player…
Putting them Together:
Ideally all free kicks will have at least one out of each of these groups:
Group A: Pin Point Accuracy or Power (or both)
Group B: Dip, Curl, Knuckle Swerve or Deception
you can combine these attributes to get excellent free kicks, preferably you should try the combonation that you can perform best and easiest
Example:
1)C. Ronaldo’s Free Kicks Have, Power, Knuckle Swerve and Deception
2)Ronaldinho’s Free Kicks Have, Pin Point Accuracy, either Dip or Curl
3)Juninhno’s Free Kicks Have, Pin Point Accuracy, Power, Dip, Curl and Deception
4)Roberto Carlos’s Free Kicks Have, Power, Curl
5)Beckham Free Kicks Have, Pin Point Accuracy, Dip and Curl
As you would expect, Juninho’s Free Kicks are extremely effective as he combines so many attributes to make his free kicks leathal, although the other 4 players I mentioned have a fantastic free kick aswell…
Credit to expert:
expert's Freekick Guide
Your Free Kick Technique:
Find out Which type of kick technique you can perform with the most confidence, accuracy and power…
Say you have a great Instep Drive, use your instep for free kicks
Say you have a great Inside Curve, use that for your free kicks
Say you can’t do the Knuckle Shot (C. Ronaldo’s Style of Free kick) for god sake don’t try do that type free kick until you learn the kick first
Next experiment at what your best at with your kicking technique:
Curling?
Making it Dip?
Knuckle Swerve?
Driving it Hard and Fast?
Perfect Accuracy?
(if you have a keeper) Deciving him to which direction your shooting:
Note: you should be good with 2 or 3 of these
Then decide which of them you are gonna practice so you can do them during free kicks
After practice you should have a good free kick technique that suit’s you…
Menatally:
Believing and visulising your free kick going in is so important when it comes to match day… having confidence in your kick can be such a difference between hitting the 3rd man in the wall and hitting the back of the net…
“My free-kick secret? I just look at the net and say 'take the kick, Cristiano’ “ – Cristiano Ronaldo
2. Penalties
Penalties all come down the nerve of a player…
First Rule:
Pick a spot and stick with it.
With you mind made up put everything into getting the shot as good as possible.
Changing your mind will only seed doubt in you mind.
Second Rule:
A hard shot is good, but not if its wide.
Concentrate on hitting the side netting, because thats the point furthest away from the keeper.
Third Rule:
Only when your accuracy is flawless and consistent should you dare trying tricks like deception or power.
There are many ways of deciving a keeper the general idea is to make him dive the wrong way.
If you can try put yourself in the keepers shoes and think 'what does he expect me to do'
When adding power to your shot you do not want to sacrifice any accuracy, power comes through good contact and follow through, with practice so does accuracy
Fourth Rule:
When Striking the you want to have total control over how you strike it.
Most players have a favored technique that they are most comfortable with using.
Whichever one is yours you should use that, so you don't need to worry about the technical side of trying to hit the ball right
Fifth Rule:
Its a battle of the nerves, but try your best to calm yourself down, the keeper is under no pressure to save the kick, but you are under pressure to score and you will feel it.
Come up with a routine (eg. a certain run up) that you are familiar with to help you relax and concentrate on the kick.
Since taking penalties is all about who is more mentally confident, you should practice until your technique is flawless and can score them with no pressure consistently.
So when the pressures on you aren't crushed into a mistake by pressure
Mathew Le Tisser:
He missed one in his whole career, but he always used to kick them hard and accurate into the bottom corners… his secret? He used to practice all the time!
Eric Cantona:
He missed one in his man united career, what he used to do was a slow run up… and he watched the keeper the whole way, then usually the keeper would dive or shift his weight to one side of the goal… and Cantona would slide the ball into the net…
Thierry Henry:
He set the ball down, took a good long look at the keeper and shaped as if he was gonna curl the ball to the right post, but instead he clipped the ball with the edge of his foot closest to the heel and the ball skids (pretty quick) into the left bottom corner… he didn’t always do this penalty but he was the master of deception…
He also once scored one when he ran up to the ball and shaped to strike the ball with his right to the right post, but instead struck the ball with his left into the opposite corner
Deceiving the keeper is the most stylish way to score... but the most risky and difficult to execute
Finally confidence is a massive issue:
Believe that when you take the penalty YOU WILL SCORE just keep saying to yourself 'I am the sh*t' and 'this will be the best peno ever'
Credit to delone:
1. Accuracy: this is obviously the most essential part of penalty taking - getting your shot on target.
2. Power: using the force of your shot to blast it past the keeper.
3. Deception: this involves disguising your shot to send the keeper the wrong way or leave him guessing as to where you're going to place the ball.
you will need to achieve a combination of 2 of the 3 tips to beat the keeper and accuracy will always be involved.
That means you are more likely to score if:
1. you combine Accuracy with Power or...
2. You combine Accuracy with Deception
3. Delivering the Ball into the box
The most important thing about a set piece is the delivery into the box, obviously…
And mastering that skill can lead to hundred’s of goals!
Corners:
Having a good delivery is essential for corner’s, you must concentrate on putting the ball in an area of the box, not necessarily for a person… the main thing is the ball MUST get past the first defender…
Tactics:
Kick Taking Tactic’s:
Curling
Inswinging Corners are usually the most effective as they curl toward the goal and can be very hard for a keeper to judge
Outswinging Corners can tempt a keeper out of his goal but it then curls away from him and someone could have an open goal to shoot at
Dipping Corners can float over a keeper leaving him in no-man’s land
Tactic’s in the Box:
General Rules
Don’t bring too many players forward as this could leave you vulnerable to a counter attack…
Tall players should run for the near or central areas, and smaller players for the far post area
Concentrate on getting contact with the ball not accuracy
Move around! Pull defender’s out of position anything that can create confusion
Passing Outside of the Box Tactic’s
Passing to the edge of the box for a volleyed shot on goal, this should be rehearsed in training…
Or as the defenders rush out, a clever chipped pass
Low Corner Tactic’s
This can be very effective if there is a player with fantastic movement who can run to the near post and flick the ball-on or even lead to O.G’s, but can be a complete waste as well
These corners should be struck HARD and FAST along the ground, bouncing, or even around chest height to cause confusion…
Short Corner Tactic’s
Use these to set up runs along the Bi-line or for setting up better angled crosses
Play the short corner and have the receiver run toward the Bi-line drawing the marker with him, then the corner taker runs toward the corner of the box, and the player with the ball then passes to the corner taker (maybe even backheel’s the ball to him) who is at the corner of the box and crosses the ball or even shoot’s
Far Post Tactic’s
For slightly smaller people (who can jump pretty high preferably) to run onto and head at or across the goal…
On the Edge of the box get 3 (or more) tall players to line up to run to the near post, then have 2 (or less) smaller players slightly behind to disguise their runs for the far post… as the kicker kicks the ball to the far post the tall players run to the near post to distract the keeper and the defenders, as the ball sails over their heads to the 2 smaller less noticeable dudes at the back post
This is really cool:
INFORM THE REFFERE, at what your gonna do before you actually do it…
Don’t try this until about the 3rd corner of the game,
When your awarded a corner pick the ball up an carry it over to the spot and place it down, then shout to some dude ‘Hang on, You Take it man’ then touch the ball on the sly (making it active) and walk away… then the dude who you told to take it just starts dribbling towards the box… causing crazy confusion
When this works the whole defense will start screaming at the ref… putting them on his bad side
and if someone (on the other team) cops what’s going on just get the normal corner kicker to re-spot the ball… the ref will probably let it go… But MAKE SURE the ref understands what’s going on
Throw in’s:
Long Throw:
throwing the ball can be as effective as a free kick, (not a stylish way to score but, a goal is a goal regardless) if you have the throwing ability of John Arne Riise or Roberto Carlos you can even play in people from the half way line (Off-side doesn’t count from a throw in)
To Feet:
Basically passing the ball in to someone’s feet so they can control and maybe play a return
Lead Throw-in:
throwing the ball to a runner (a lot like a through ball)
Free Kicks:
You should follow the corner guidelines when considering what to do for a set piece
A simple Chip when in close proximity can cause huge Confusion!
Try to chip the ball in for the near post or even driven along the ground
But the most effective of all is the outswinging, high and curling pass to the far post for players to run on-to…
Also quick free kicks and passes to un-noticeable and un-marked players…
4. Drills
NewBornProdigy's Drills
red font: simple and effective way to do drills
green font: more advanced and game realistic way to do drills
Set Piece Drills
Group A
Drill 1
Tire (any object with a hole in it would work), rope, Goal (full sized preferably)…
Hang the tire off the crossbar of the goal and kick the ball at the tire, from about 20-25 yards away
Hang the tire off the crossbar of the goal and kick the ball through the tire, from about 20-25 yards away
Drill 2
Ball, Goal, Corner Flag (preferably a tall object, those plastic free-kick walls would be ideal)…
Place the object in line with the near post about 10 yards away from you and curl the ball around it into the net, from about 20-25 yards away
Place the object slightly beyond the far post about 10 yards away from you and curl the ball around it into the net, from about 20-25 yards away
Drill 3
Ball, 25 Yards of space, 2 Cones…
Make a gate with the 2 cones and cross the ball through them, from about 20-25 yards away
Take away one of the cones and then cross the ball trying to hit the cone Place the object in line with the near post about 10 yards away from you and curl the ball around it into the net, from about 20-25 yards away
Group B
Drill 1
Blindfold, Goal (full sized preferably)…
Take penaltys
Take penaltys with blindfold on
Drill 2
Ball, Goal (Small or Large)…
Take free kicks using your favorite free kick technique, from about 20-25 yards away
Take free kicks aiming for the crossbar of the goal, from about 20-25 yards away
Drill 3
Ball, Full Sized Pitch and Goal…
From one corner swing the ball in and try score, then go to the opposite corner and repeat using your weakfoot
From one corner swing the ball in and tryhit the crossbar, then go to the opposite corner and repeat using your weakfoot
This is my Free Kick Guide!!! If you have any extra tips or suggestions just leave a comment and I’ll edit it in...
Other NewBornProdigy Guides
NewBornProdigy’s Ball Striking Guide
http://www.expertfootball.com/forum/vie ... hp?t=15192
NewBornProdigy’s Weak Foot Guide
viewtopic.php?t=13035
NewBornProdigy's Volley Guide
viewtopic.php?t=13163
NewBornProdigy's Dribbling Guide
viewtopic.php?t=13975
“He's a gift from heaven, he is truly a gift from heaven. Whatever he touches turns to gold” - Commentator Alan Parry on Ronaldo's free-kick against Portsmouth
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