Steps
#1 Take about two steps back and two to the side.
#2 Look at the point of the ball where you want to hit the ball. If you want it to swerve to the right, kick the ball on the left side- and visa versa for swerving it to the left. It is much easier to start out with curving the ball to the left.
#3 Take a running start. Aim for a bottom-right panel on the ball. Place your planting foot (left foot if you kick with right, and vice versa) at a 45 degree angle '''towards''' the ball. Take your footware off and look at your foot. Feel the inside of yor shooting foot. Feel just below the end of your big toe bone. Now move another 3/4 to 1 inch towards your ankle. This is where you should make contact with the ball. When you acually kick, your kicking foot should wrap around to the. left side of your body (for rightys)
#4 Make sure to swing your hips.
#5 Also don't forget to lean back and swing your hands for balance.
Tips
- Practice, practice, practice.
- Aim to spin the ball as much as possible, by dragging the foot across it- strike the opposite side of the ball to the direction you want it to travel in.
- If the ball is being struck "dead" (for example during a free kick) then it can sometimes be advantageous position the valve (used to inflate the ball) carefully. Despite it's minimal weight, placing the ball with the valve on one side of the ball can affect it's flight. This is particularly effective with the newer, more modern balls coming into play which are extremely light and prone to move unexpectedly in the air.
- Pretend there is a red cross wrapped around the ball and it is facing the goal--backwards, left and right, and across. Run towards the ball at a 45 degree angle. Kick the ball at the point of the cross facing backwards from the goal and make the ball leave your foot when your foot is on the point of the cross that is pointing right (it's on the right side of the ball). If you're right footed, opposite for left-footers.
Watch this video for help on curving a soccer ball.
