Whenever classical goals are scored in the beautiful round leather game, iconic celebrations are required to match the feeling of excitement that follows.
Players sliding on their knees has become one of the most frenzied commemorations in modern-day football. It is very popular, so much so that it’s almost synonymous with the game itself.
But a quick sortie back to the days of old, when the practice became a part of the game, reveals that originally, knee slides were only seen in American football and baseball.
In American football, players will often slide on their knees after scoring a touchdown, while in baseball, players will slide into a base.
The reason for the slides is to officially announce that the players have reached their destination and completed their goal or task in the game.
But thanks to Brazilian football legend Jairzinho, who integrated the act into the football game during the 1970 World Cup. He would run to the sidelines and slide on his knees in front of the fans after scoring a goal.
Soon enough, the celebration became more popular as other football players also caught the fever of what used to be a Jairzinho goal celebration trademark.
As years went by, knee slides while celebrating became a norm in the game, and up to date, it has been even amplified after new generation players applied a bit of creativity to it – adding their spins and flip to make the art even more glamorous.
Having revealed the origin of the art, shall we look at exactly how it could be done without the fear of getting injured or breaking one’s kneecaps?
Although there are physical risks involved in the act, however, if the steps that will be highlighted in the piece are followed with strict adherence to every detail, there would be no problem.
Building Enough Speed by Running Forward
Knee slides could be effectively achieved when the player has built enough speed before the legs and knees come in contact with the ground.
Because of the friction of the grass, it is recommended that a player should attempt at least 15 to 20 meters of speed before proceeding to the second stage because the longer the slide will be can only be determined by the amount of speed that has been built.
Bend The Knee
Make no mistake; this isn’t the Game of Thrones. But as far as knee slides are concerned, bending the knee is needed, and the player must be strategic about it to avoid unwanted injuries – just as Snow was strategic before he bent the knees.
It’s important to know that one of the two knees must go down first before the second, and as it gradually goes to the ground, it mustn’t touch the grass surface.
The purpose of this step is to make one knee bring the upper body down to the ground, which ultimately brings about a soft landing on the turf.
Pulling The Upper Body Backward
Having bent the knees to prepare for a soft landing on the turf’s surface, it is expected to move the upper body backward so as to decrease the effects of the air friction because the air, most times, resists the players’ sliding motion.
Footbridge Connection
This step is the most crucial, and it requires maximum understanding. After the first knee would have come down, the second knee is expected to make the first contact with the turf surface.
Afterward, the footbridge will lead the touchdown before the lower knee can follow suit. Once this is achieved, it’ll become easier for the player to land safely, leaving the sliding motion to be the next step.
Upper Body and Backward Positioning
By now, the sliding motion has already started, but the speed and intensity of the act must be maintained. To do this, the body should be pulled backward to reduce the air resistance, as was done in step number three of this piece.
How To Make Knee Slide Easier And Safer
Here are a few things that make knee slide easier and safer:
The field grass: A couple of fields are mostly hybrid or natural grass, and sliding on them is safer and easier than doing it on any artificial turf.
Players’ sweat: Players will naturally emit sweat from their bodies owing to the lot of runs they make in a single match. It aids knee sliding, also.
Wet Grass: The grass of the field is always watered before the game and at halftime using the watering systems in the field.
Conclusion
Sliding on the knees has gone beyond a mere commemoration of a goal or victory; it doubles as one of the ways players show their excitement and appreciation to the games and the fans, as well as to create memorable and iconic moments for years to come.
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