Ball Kicking Speed Test: Protocol and Reference Values by Level

The speed at which the ball leaves the foot after a shot is one of the most visual and motivating indicators for a soccer player: everyone wants to "kick harder." But beyond the fun factor, the kicking power test is an objective measure of lower-body power and coordination applied to a sport-specific movement, and it's very sensitive to changes produced by strength and technical training.

What does this test measure?

It measures the ball's exit speed after a maximal kick, usually with the instep. It's an indicator of lower-body muscular power (especially quadriceps, glutes, and core) and of the technical efficiency of the kicking motion, since two players with similar strength can produce very different ball speeds depending on their technique.

Equipment needed

• Regulation balls (several, to avoid wasting time retrieving them)
• Speed radar (baseball/tennis radar) or high-speed camera system with analysis software
• Goal or rebound wall as the impact target
• Run-up space of at least 5-8 meters

Execution protocol

1. General warm-up plus specific lower-body activation and progressive kicking series at increasing intensity
2. Position the radar at ball height, aligned with the shot's trajectory, at a fixed distance (usually just behind or beside the goal, depending on the radar model)
3. The player performs a maximal kick from a stationary ball, with a free but consistent run-up (note the number of approach steps if you want to control this variable)
4. Record the maximum ball speed in km/h for each attempt
5. Repeat 5-6 attempts with the dominant foot and, if relevant, another 5-6 with the non-dominant foot, allowing enough rest between shots (30-60 seconds) to avoid fatigue
6. Take the highest value from the series as the test result

Common mistakes

• Not allowing enough rest between shots, which reduces speed due to fatigue rather than actual capacity
• Varying the run-up distance between attempts without noting it
• Only measuring the dominant foot when the goal is to detect asymmetries between legs
• Using balls in poor condition or with incorrect pressure, which artificially affects exit speed

How to interpret the result

Ball speed	Approximate level (dominant foot)
< 70 km/h	Beginner / grassroots
70-90 km/h	Amateur / advanced youth
90-110 km/h	Semi-professional
> 110 km/h	Professional / elite

The difference between dominant and non-dominant foot is usually around 15-25% in field players; larger differences may indicate room for improvement in bilateral training.

Related tests

The kicking power test is best understood alongside:

• Power clean test — if overall lower-body power is low, it's likely also limiting kicking speed
• FIFA 11+ test — a good kicking power result combined with poor neuromuscular control (FIFA 11+) suggests the player is "forcing" the movement by compensating with technique, which can increase the risk of overload injuries

Tracking with Movalytics

Kicking speed is a highly motivating data point for players and very useful for coaching staff: with Movalytics you can record each player's maximum speed, with both feet, and track their progress throughout the season, identifying whether strength and technical work is translating into real improvements on the field.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a professional radar to perform this test? A basic speed radar (the kind used in baseball or tennis) is sufficient and relatively affordable. There are also video analysis apps that estimate speed from high-speed camera recordings, although with less precision. What type of kick should be measured? The most standardized option is the instep kick from a stationary ball, since it's the most reproducible. If you want to assess kicking in motion (more specific to real gameplay), record it separately because the values aren't comparable. How often does it make sense to repeat this test? Every 8-12 weeks is reasonable, especially if the player is going through a specific block of lower-body strength or power training.