You are back to goal, out of position and well marked; at one point you get a kiss cross. All is not lost! From Pele to Wayne Rooney, many have displaced the goalkeeper with a bicycle kick, capitalizing on a perfect cross despite the unfavorable circumstances. You can also learn this technique on your own, practicing in training and looking for the right opportunity to use it in a match.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Learning the Basics
Step 1. Turn your back to where you want to aim the ball
To make the most of a bicycle kick, you will need to fall on your back and kick the ball high over your head, aiming it in the opposite direction from where you are facing. It is precisely the fact of kicking backwards that makes the overhead kick an unexpected and highly spectacular play.
Most overhead kicks are done in the penalty area after a cross or other type of pass. Often it is an impromptu, instinctive play
Step 2. Push yourself with the foot you normally use to kick
To initiate the movement, lift the knee of your non-dominant leg and lift off the ground by pushing with the foot you use to kick. The higher you lift the foot of the non-dominant leg, the better it will be, as this will give you the momentum you need to make the right movement with the kicking foot.
Depending on the position on the pitch and the distance of the body from the ball, you may have to strike from the right or left, but the push must always be given with the foot that is going to kick
Step 3. Push your head and shoulders back
As you raise your leg, give yourself the momentum backwards as if trying to get away from the ball by throwing yourself backwards to the ground. Do not speed up the movement and be careful not to flip over completely. Focus on the moment you go to kick the ball and don't rush.
Think of the scene in The Matrix where Neo tries to dodge a barrage of bullets by leaning back. That's what you need to do, but quickly
Step 4. Raise your kicking leg as you fall
Using the backward momentum, he scissors his legs, moving the foot that does not kick down and the one that kicks up, to go and hit the ball.
This rotation of the foot is the movement that gives its name to this type of kick; using the other leg to push yourself and get enough strength to kick the ball backwards
Step 5. Hit the ball
Use the back of your foot to kick over your head and aim the ball away from where you are facing. You should hit the ball full, not too far below to avoid sending it steeply upwards.
During a bicycle kick it is rather difficult to hit the ball well, for this reason this play is used only as a last resort. Keep your eyes fixed on the ball and try to hit as best you can
Step 6. Prepare for impact with the ground
Extend your arms to cushion the fall and open as much as possible to minimize the impact of your back and hips with the ground. Don't spin too fast.
Some players prefer to fall on their side rather than on their back. Experiment with the different variations and find out what's best for you and your play style
Part 2 of 3: Train Safely
Step 1. Train exclusively on grass
Of course, landing on your back can present some dangers. To reduce the risk of injury, it is best to train on the grass, in order to cushion the fall. Falling on your back on uneven ground or concrete can lead to injury. It is not a technique to be used indoors.
Step 2. Learn to fall without hurting yourself
When you do the reverse, spread your arms to cushion the fall; make it an instinctive movement.
Step 3. Dedicate more to the fundamentals
For a footballer, learning to do a bicycle kick can be considered the icing on the cake, but it shouldn't be a technical gesture to be trained constantly. Spending some time at the end of your practice trying to kick back is fine, but priority should always be given to basic techniques (passing, kicking, etc.).
Step 4. Have someone else lift the ball
Training alone is tough, as you have to lift the ball yourself. Having a teammate who throws the ball at you from different directions is much more productive. Kicking on the fly is rather complicated, and it is precisely this difficulty that pushes the most experienced players, and not just those, to try and try this technical gesture again.
If you can't find anyone to train with, try bouncing the ball off a wall so it comes back to you, or kick it up with a dribble
Part 3 of 3: Doing the In-Match Reverse
Step 1. First, consider passing the ball.
Despite the spectacularity, an overhead kick attempt has little chance of success; it is more likely that you will peel the ball, have a foul on an opponent or miss the ball altogether. When you are in the box, with your back to the goal, see if you have a free teammate to pass the ball to.
If you don't have a free teammate, consider whether to stop the ball and then try to dribble the defenders or try a less complicated shot. Directing the ball into the net with a bicycle kick may be fine, but kicking from the ground results in a much more powerful shot
Step 2. Don't go offside
Most overhead kick attacks are attempted when you are in the penalty area and your team is in possession of the ball. Whenever you push forward in an attempt to score, check that, when your teammate passes, there is an opposing player (other than the goalkeeper) between you and the goal line.
Step 3. Make sure you are not tightly marked
Even if you are in a good position to attempt a bicycle kick, first make sure you don't have an opponent on you that you could hit. Having to lift your foot so high increases the odds of playing dangerous play. Be careful not to get warned!
Step 4. Give the kick as much power as possible
Kick hard! Looking for accuracy would be possible if you had full control of the ball, but the overhead shot is a sudden shot that needs to be made with power; the important thing is to hit the target, rather than placing the ball.
