How to Improve Your Weak Foot in Soccer
Have you seen a soccer player who can play with their right and left foot? Their game, compared to their peers, is much more refined. As a youth coach, you’ll notice these kids can run circles around their opponents!
Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned player, learning to use your weaker foot more can give you a competitive edge over your opponents. However, it’s not easy and definitely awkward. It will take time and effort to develop your weak foot, and it requires a different approach than training your dominant foot.
Why is this an important topic to bring up? I’ve noticed a player on my son’s team who hasn’t developed his weak foot (right) and has been stuck in the same left-back position for the last five years. As he gets older, he’s been struggling because he’s a couple of seconds slower than everyone else because he’s constantly shifting his body to use his stronger foot. I don’t want this for you.
In this article, I will provide you with some tips and exercises to help you improve your weak foot in soccer.
Keep in mind that it will be frustrating, difficult, and unnatural but you’ll come out on the other side a better soccer player.
The Importance of a Strong Weak Foot in Soccer
In soccer, having a strong weak foot can be the difference between being a good player and being a great player.
Your weak foot is the foot that you are less comfortable with, and it’s usually your non-dominant foot. For most players, this is your left foot. For the other 10%, your weak foot is your right.
Improving your weak foot can help you become a more versatile player and give you a competitive edge on the field.
Here are some reasons why having a strong weak foot is important:
1. Better Ball Control
Being able to control the ball with both feet is important for any soccer player. When you have a strong weak foot, you can receive and pass the ball with ease, regardless of which foot the ball comes to you. This makes you a more unpredictable player and more difficult to defend against.
2. Improved Balance and Agility
When you can use both feet equally, you become a more balanced player. You can shift your weight from one foot to another more quickly, making it easier to change direction and evade defenders. This also improves your overall agility on the field.
When you’re able to use both feet, you won’t have to turn your body to use your dominant foot. These seconds are precious in a soccer game.
3. Unpredictability
If you only use your dominant foot, your opponents will quickly figure out which side you prefer to attack from. However, if you have a strong weak foot, you become more unpredictable. You can attack from either side, making it harder for defenders to anticipate your moves.
4. More Opportunities to Score
If you can shoot with both feet, you have more opportunities to score. You don’t have to waste time trying to get the ball onto your dominant foot before taking a shot. Instead, you can quickly shoot with either foot, catching the goalkeeper off guard and increasing your chances of scoring.
Identifying Your Weak Foot
Improving your weak foot in soccer requires you to first identify which foot is your weaker one. For most players, their weaker foot is their non-dominant foot, but it’s not always the case. Also, you may already know which foot is your weakest so you can skip this section. Here are a few ways to determine which foot is your weaker one:
1. Shooting and Passing
One way to identify your weaker foot is by shooting and passing with both feet. Stand in front of a wall and pass the ball against it with your right foot, then your left foot.
Observe which foot is less accurate and less powerful. The same can be done with shooting. Shoot the ball at a target with both feet and observe which foot is less accurate and less powerful.
2. Dribbling
Another way to identify your weaker foot is by dribbling with both feet. Set up cones or markers and dribble through them with both feet. Observe which foot feels less comfortable and less controlled.
3. Balance
Your weaker foot may also be your less stable foot. Stand on one foot at a time and observe which foot is less stable and more difficult to balance on.
Once you have identified your weaker foot, you can start working on improving it. Remember, improving your weaker foot takes time and practice. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results. Keep practicing and you will see improvement over time. I promise!
Basic Drills to Improve Your Weak Foot
Improving your weak foot is essential for becoming a better soccer player. Here are some basic drills that can help you improve your weak foot:
Ball Control Drills
Ball control is the foundation of soccer. Here are some ball control drills that you can practice to improve your weak foot:
- Wall Passes: Stand about a yard away from a wall and pass the ball back and forth with your weak foot. This drill will help you improve your ball control and accuracy.
- Cone Dribbling: Set up a course of cones and dribble through them using only your weak foot. This drill will help you improve your dribbling skills and ball control.
- Juggling: Juggle the ball with your weak foot for as long as you can. This drill will help you improve your touch and coordination.
Passing Drills
Here are some passing drills that you can practice to improve your weak foot:
- One-Touch Passes: Stand about five yards away from a partner and pass the ball back and forth using only one touch. This drill will help you improve your passing accuracy and speed.
- Triangle Passing: Set up a triangle with two partners and pass the ball around using only your weak foot. This drill will help you improve your passing accuracy and decision-making skills.
- Long Passes: Practice long passes with your weak foot by passing the ball as far as you can to a partner. This drill will help you improve your passing distance and accuracy.
Shooting Drills
Here are some shooting drills that you can practice to improve your weak foot:
- Shooting at Goal: Practice shooting at goal with your weak foot from different angles and distances. This drill will help you improve your shooting accuracy and power.
- Volleys: Practice volleys with your weak foot by having a partner throw the ball to you. This drill will help you improve your timing and technique.
- Lightning: Lightning is a fun game that gets the team continuously shooting. Using your weak foot only can help give you more consistency.
Training Your Weak Foot in Practices
One of the best ways to incorporate weak foot training into your regular practice routine is to start with simple drills and gradually progress to more complex exercises. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
Start with Simple Drills
Begin by practicing simple drills that focus on your weaker foot. For example, you can start by kicking the ball against the wall with your weaker foot. This will help you improve your accuracy and control.
Another simple drill is to pass the ball back and forth with a partner using only your weaker foot. This will help you get comfortable using your weaker foot during a game.
Gradually Increase the Difficulty
As you become more comfortable with simple drills, gradually increase the difficulty of the exercises.
For example, you can try dribbling the ball with your weaker foot through cones.
You can also practice shooting with your weaker foot from different angles and distances.
Incorporate Weak Foot Training into Regular Drills
Incorporate weak foot training into your regular drills. For example, during a passing drill, challenge yourself to use your weaker foot to pass the ball.
During a shooting drill, try to shoot with your weaker foot. This will help you get comfortable using your weaker foot during game situations.
Use Both Feet Equally
Finally, remember to use both feet equally during practice and games. Even if your weaker foot is not as strong as your dominant foot (which it probably won’t be), using it regularly will help you improve over time.
By using both feet equally, you will become a more well-rounded player and increase your chances of success on the field.
Final Thoughts
Improving your weak foot in soccer can be a challenging task, but it is essential if you want to become a versatile and well-rounded player.
By practicing regularly and using the right techniques, you can make significant progress and increase your confidence with your weaker foot. Here are some key takeaways to keep in mind:
- Weak foot training should focus on improving stability, balance, agility, and technique. This will enable you to become more unpredictable, shield the ball on your weaker side, and move the ball into different areas of the field.
- Some effective ways to improve your weaker foot include juggling the ball, practicing passing and shooting against a wall, and gradually increasing the difficulty of your drills.
- It’s important to be patient and persistent when working on your weak foot. Progress may not come quickly, but with consistent effort, you can make significant improvements over time.
By being able to go left and right, you put yourself in a better position to play in different areas of the field.
Stay patient and work on your game with purpose. You’ll be a dynamic player eventually!
Frequently Asked Questions
There are several effective drills you can do to improve your weaker foot in soccer. One of the most basic and effective drills is to practice passing and shooting with your weaker foot. You can also work on dribbling with your weaker foot by setting up cones and practicing dribbling through them. Juggling the ball with your weaker foot is another great drill to improve your touch and control.
To make your foot stronger for soccer, you can do exercises that focus on building strength and agility in your feet and ankles. Some examples of exercises include calf raises, toe raises, and ankle rotations. You can also use resistance bands to add resistance and challenge to your exercises.
and pass the ball against it with your weaker foot. As the ball comes back to you, use your weaker foot to receive the ball and pass it back against the wall. Another passing drill is the one-touch pass drill, where you pass the ball back and forth with a partner using only your weaker foot. These are simple yet effective soccer drills.
Using both feet allows you to be more versatile and unpredictable on the field, making it harder for defenders to anticipate your next move. It also gives you more options when you are on the ball, allowing you to pass, shoot, or dribble in any direction. By practicing with both feet, you can become a more complete and well-rounded player.
