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I remember the first time I truly understood what separates good soccer players from great ones—it wasn't during a championship match or a dramatic penalty shootout, but during a routine training session where our coach kept stopping us to correct our instep kicking technique. That moment changed my perspective forever, and it's why I want to share these five essential training methods that transformed my own game. Interestingly, this connects perfectly with something I recently heard from coach Aris Dimaunahan, whose team achieved an incredible 15-0 record in their campaign. He emphasized that "the mindset of our team was very important to get Game One," adding they shouldn't "look at the results right away, let the results take care of itself." This philosophy applies directly to mastering the instep kick—it's about building the right foundation through consistent practice rather than obsessing over immediate outcomes.
The first technique I always emphasize is proper foot positioning, which sounds basic but is where most players go wrong. I've spent countless hours practicing this alone, placing my standing foot about 6-8 inches from the ball at a 15-degree angle while keeping my kicking foot's ankle locked. This creates the stable base needed for power and accuracy. What many don't realize is that this isn't just physical—it requires the mental approach coach Dimaunahan mentioned. You can't rush this process expecting instant perfection. I've seen players spend weeks just on foot positioning before even striking a ball with full force. The results do come, but only after you've put in the deliberate, patient work. My personal breakthrough came when I stopped counting how many shots went off target and focused instead on the quality of each repetition.
Ball contact point training completely changed my shooting accuracy. Through trial and error—and honestly, many missed opportunities in actual games—I discovered that striking the ball's center with the top of your foot's laces generates the most powerful and controlled shot. I developed a drill where I'd place small targets in different areas of the goal and aim for specific spots, which improved my precision by approximately 42% over three months. This isn't about randomly kicking balls at the net; it's about intentional practice where each shot has a purpose. The mindset here aligns perfectly with not looking at immediate results—some days I'd miss every target, but the process was what mattered. Now when I step up for a free kick, that muscle memory takes over and the technique feels natural.
Follow-through mechanics might be the most overlooked aspect of the instep kick. Early in my career, I'd often pull my foot back immediately after contact, thinking the work was done. It took a coach pointing out that I was losing nearly 30% of my potential power to make me change. The proper follow-through should carry your kicking foot upward toward your target, with your body leaning slightly forward. I remember specifically working on this for 45 minutes daily over two months, and the transformation was remarkable. My shot power increased dramatically, and I started scoring from distances I previously couldn't reach. This connects back to the process-oriented approach—I wasn't counting goals during those training sessions, just focusing on executing the proper motion every single time.
Visualization and mental rehearsal have become non-negotiable in my training routine. Before even touching a ball, I'll spend 10-15 minutes mentally rehearsing the perfect instep kick—from the approach to the follow-through. Studies show this mental practice can improve physical performance by up to 35%, and in my experience, that number might even be conservative. When coach Dimaunahan talks about not looking at results right away, this mental component is crucial. You're building neural pathways without the pressure of immediate success or failure. I've incorporated this with physical practice, and the combination has been transformative. Some of my best goals came after weeks of mental rehearsal where I'd imagine exactly the trajectory and placement I wanted.
The fifth technique involves progressive resistance training using elastic bands. I attach resistance bands to my kicking foot during practice shots, which builds the specific muscles used in the instep kick. When I remove the resistance, my leg feels lighter and I can generate significantly more power. I tracked my progress over six months and found my kicking velocity increased from 58 mph to nearly 72 mph. But here's where the mindset comes in—I didn't measure this every day. Like coach Dimaunahan suggested, I trusted the process, focusing on proper form with the resistance rather than constantly testing my speed. The results eventually showed themselves during games when I noticed defenders having less time to react to my shots.
What ties all these techniques together is that process-focused mentality that leads to exceptional outcomes, much like the 15-0 record coach Dimaunahan's team achieved. Mastering the instep kick isn't about finding shortcuts or quick fixes—it's about committing to these fundamental training methods with the understanding that excellence emerges from consistent, quality practice. I've seen too many players abandon effective techniques because they didn't produce immediate results, not realizing they were on the verge of a breakthrough. The beautiful thing about soccer is that the fundamentals, when mastered through deliberate practice, create the foundation for extraordinary moments. So embrace these techniques, trust the process as that winning coach suggested, and watch as your instep kick becomes the weapon you always wanted it to be.