General
bicycle kick
What does bicycle kick mean?
A spectacular strike where a player throws their body backwards into the air and scissors their legs to volley the ball overhead.
"He scored with an outrageous bicycle kick from the edge of the six-yard box."
Origin
So named because the leg motion resembles pedalling a bicycle; also 'overhead kick' or 'chilena'.
Frequently asked questions
What is a bicycle kick?
It is an acrobatic strike where a player throws themselves backwards into the air and scissors their legs to volley the ball overhead while facing away from goal.
Why is it called a bicycle kick?
The scissoring motion of the legs in mid-air looks like the player is pedalling a bicycle.
What else is a bicycle kick called?
It is also known as an overhead kick, a scissor kick, or the 'chilena' in Spanish-speaking countries.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Vocabulary Flow — saved to your collection.
