Free Kicks in Soccer

roundmound · #1 01-24-2006, 05:18 PM

Fox Sports shows English Premier league games at 11 AM here and I have been watching these for the last couple of months. How come most free kicks are no where near the net? It seems to me like this is something that could be practiced and the best players in the world would be able to at least put a majority of them on net. What am I missing here? Is it that hard to consistently put the necessary hook on the ball?

Aces McGee · #2 01-24-2006, 05:22 PM

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Is it that hard to consistently put the necessary hook on the ball?

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At the pace necessary to get it by the goalkeeper, yes.

-McGee

NT! · #3 01-24-2006, 05:22 PM

Not all are intended to be on net. There are direct and indirect kicks - indirect needs to be touched by another player before it can go in.

Also, re: hooking the ball, yes, it's pretty hard.

NT

Bork · #4 01-24-2006, 06:07 PM

Its extremely hard, imagine kicking a field goal but you have to kick it harder and into a smaller area, and with some swirve or dip.

The goal is 25 yards away there is a wall of players infront of you blocking out much of the goal. The keeper is covering the rest of the goal. So you basically have to kick it so it goes over the wall and then dips into the small % of the goal where it is possible to score, and with enough velocity so the keeper cannot react in time to reach it. The parts of the goal you are aiming for are typically the upper corners so it is no surprise shots are off target so much.

If they wanted to put them on target 99% of the time they certainly could but they would not be of the quality that has a chance to beat the keeper.

turdbird · #5 01-24-2006, 06:20 PM

Just like Aces said... There are direct and indirect kicks...

An indirect is for a penalty that isn't really that bad...think of it as a "offsides" in the NFL

A direct kick is for a penalty that is pretty bad... think NFL "facemask"....

Indirect kicks have to touch at least one other player before a goal can be attempted. A Direct kick can go right in. They are hard to make but not impossible. I know when I played in college we had a day of practice a week on direct and indirect kicks, corner kicks, goal kicks, and throw ins.

Victor · #6 01-24-2006, 06:23 PM

im gonna make a wild guess that youve never actually kicked a soccer ball?

Victor · #7 01-24-2006, 06:24 PM

indirect kicks are very very very rarely called at higher levels.

PokerFink · #8 01-24-2006, 06:25 PM

I don't think he's talking about indirect kicks, which are usually passes into the box (or touched and shot, so it's irrelevant). He's talking about attempts that are clearly shots that miss by a lot.

Anyways, yes, it's extremely difficult. Bork is dead on with his analysis.

nyc999 · #9 01-24-2006, 07:25 PM

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Bork is dead on with his analysis.

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Soccer at that level is all about getting an open shot. The keepers and D are excellent at covering key angles, and direct kicks need to be near perfection to score from any real distance.

ColdCaller · #10 01-24-2006, 08:20 PM

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[ QUOTE ]
Bork is dead on with his analysis.

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Soccer at that level is all about getting an open shot. The keepers and D are excellent at covering key angles, and direct kicks need to be near perfection to score from any real distance.

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If the keeper is good and sets the wall right, no direct kick should ever hit an open spot on the net unless it is a godlike kick.

(Speaking as a former college GK.)