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Genius Hour Project

Every four years, The World Cup begins and the world’s most skilled player’s line up for penalty kicks take aim and shoot way over the goal. The players are all trying to curve the ball into a top corner of the goal, often over a wall of defensive players and away from the reach of a lunging goalkeeper

Researchers believe that one variable does change the way soccer balls curve. Their surfaces. It is harder to control a smoother ball. If the ball is perfectly smooth it will curve differently. That means that if two balls are kicked the same way by the same player they can actually curve in opposite directions, depending on the surface of those balls.

Back to 8th grade

For the origional Power Point click on this

Place the ball on the 18 yard line. Place it on the left if you’re right footed and on the right if you’re left footed.

Take 2 steps back from the ball and two steps left or right depending if you are left footed or right footed.

Look at the spot you are going to kick the ball at. If you want it to go left hit it on the right side if you want it to go right hit it on the left side

Run at the ball and hit the bottom right of the ball. Place your left foot at a 45 degree angle towards the ball. You should hit the bottom right. When you actually kick, your kicking foot should wrap around to the left side of your body

Make sure to swing your hips and keep your ankle locked and keep your body over the ball.

Practice kicking the ball like this and eventually you will be curving the ball.

It’s very important to follow through with your kicking foot going fully across your body. You should kick it correctly, and kick it hard enough to curve. Try to pull your kicking leg back further and be sure to swing your hips to get enough on the ball.