Lofted Kick

In order for a player to propel the football into the air and pull off a lofted kick they must carry out a series of simple techniques that can be very useful during a game. The lofted kick simply means the ball is struck high into the air over a large area to land at a precise area. During a match the lofted kick is often used to reach players that were not active in play but are in a useful area.

The technique for lofting a ball is as follows: the body approaches the ball standing straight and then leans back as the ball is approached. The head leans back with the body and the eyes should be level with the horizon. While the body is leaning back, weight should be applied to the heel of the non-kicking foot, arms should be outstretched with the arm on the opposite side to the kicking foot in a forward position ready to pull the body through when the ball is struck.

Lofted Kick

The area of the foot used should be the ‘sweet spot’, which is where the laces are on a conventional boot, because there is more surface area here providing a better chance of the pass being accurate. The area in which the ball is hit is a vital part of this technique. The ball should be struck underneath, where the ball sits on the ground. As the foot connects with the ball it should be a slow and smooth motion, raising it off the ground and into the air.

A follow-through is not needed as much as when shooting or passing as the lofted kick is more about accuracy than power. It is closer to a ‘chip’ but it has more power.

The most common use of the lofted kick is for an attacking player to run on to. David Beckham, is one of the masters of this technique.