Resisting the Urge to Work on Your Toes

This is most interesting and in fact questions the repetitive cliche of on your toes. I liked the previous comment on balls of your feet. However given that a Football player is often balancing on one foot when striking the ball with the other, a firm whole contact with the ground will assist the Core muscles and arm position movement for continued balance throughout the action. Shifting weight and direction of body movement also suggests good footwork with both feet in synchrosity rather than flat on ground. Boxers often have one foot planted and the other leaning for quick transition to various fwd backwd and side movement are also applicable. Goal keepers changing direction and explosive movement would also suggest that both feet are not flat on ground. GREAT SUBJECT MATTER!

I always think of it as a ready position if your not ready you cannot move change direction or transfer your momentum. Plus being on your balls of your feet (up on your toes) increases the likelihood of being able to react to situations that are ever changing in soccer.

Anders - yes toes is very difficult! The balls of your feet is what the proper technique is not toes correct?

You cannot change direction of movement if you are not balanced on the front of your feet. Martial Arts Football basketball in fact any non stationary sport that requires change of direction needs people balanced on the front of their feet. Or you need to move to that to begin changing direction.

I have heard many grassroots cricket coaches encourage their WK to 'be' up on their toes rather than train to quickly transfer! As somebody who deals with the other end of this: tight soleus, inhibited hip extension reducing speed, compensation hitting the hams etc... great article!