I would like to learn how to kick a football (soccer ball) further
from a dead ball (not moving) situation like a goal kick. What is the
best technique for getting distance on my kicks? What muscles are
involved and would weight training on those particular muscles help?

I will write this as if you are right-footed, if you are left footed invert it.
It depends on the situation. If it is a:

1). Dead ball (goal kick, corner kick)
take two or three steps back and one to the left. Raise your left hand
for balence and approach the ball. When approaching lean slightly
foreward to increase the momentum of your foot but make sure to not be
leaning at the point of striking the ball. Strike the ball a little
below the middle of it with the inside of the laces of your shoe. Once
you understand the technique it is a matter of practice to make the
ball go the proper distence.

2). Live Ball (Ball is in play)
it is a better idea to tap the ball to the outside with your striking
foot as a set up, then repeat the process in 1) minus the steps
backwards.

Make sure your plant foot is not too far away and not too close. Your
plant foot should be pointed in the direction you want to kick. If you
want to kick a low power shot, like a penelty shot, make sure you DO
NOT lean back while kicking. Keep your weight balenced. Try to get
your knee over the ball. To kick a long high ball, like a goal kick -
try to lean back a little more, your plant foot should be a little
behind the ball. You should consentrate on using your big toe and up
to the inside of you laces.

I hope you understand this. I have coached varsity soccer in both men
and woman and I have women easily kicking the ball well over midfield.

Good luck to you my friend.

i agree. try to make the movement as smooth as possible.

I think I am Ok with technique and am currently consistently kicking
over the half way line from a goal kick however I want to know where
to get that extra power from to get the extra distance to the edge of
the opposition penalty box.

If you want power and consistency to a ball struck with the laces,
whether you are driving over distance, shooting toward goal, chipping
or driving a ball low on or close to the ground, the top player plant
in front of the ball "heel to the center of the ball" is the minimum,
and most plant with the heel in front of the ball.  Try this and let
me know what you think.

The power behind a kick comes from momentum, and mostly your quad. For
weight training, you want to work on lifts that increase your
explosiveness. Hang cleans are great for building your legs muscles
and increasing explosiveness as well. Other great left lifts are
squats and leg presses. These all can help strengthen your quads. Make
sure you are not building up your quads without equally focusing on
your hamstrings. Over developed quads and underdeveloped hammies can
lead to ACL tears. If you are a keeper, explosiveness also is great on
increasing your reaction times and vertical leap.

A pretty good book on the subject (Cost):

http://www.humankinetics.com/products/showproduct.cfm?isbn=0880116854

A good video on the subject (cost):

http://www.howtosports.com/football_place_kicking.php

Interesting info:
http://www.goodfor3.com/

---------
CHOICES TO MAKE 

You have two decisions to make.  Will you be a "two" or "three-step"
kicker and will you be a straight-on or soccer-style kicker?  The
choice between being straight-on and soccer-style kicker is easy, be a
soccer-style kicker.

Two or three step approach 

Placekicking can be accomplished using either a Two-step or Three-step approach. 

Many coaches prefer a two-step approach to get to the ball faster. 
Some reasons:  the holder is too slow getting the ball down; the
center?s snap is too slow; or the offensive line allows penetration.

Advantages to the Two-step approach: 

The distance between the kicker and the ball is decreased.  

Advantages to the Three-step approach: 

Provides more power as a result of the forward movement of the body to the ball. 
Provides greater balance at the approach to the ball. 
Compensates for a bad snap.  Enables you to start-stop-restart your
stride and still maintain balance.
Most high school, college, and pro kickers use the three-step approach. 

Straight-on or Soccer-style 

Most college kickers and all NFL kickers use the soccer-style
approach, yet many high school kickers are straight-on kickers because
that is what they learned when they were just starting.
  

Advantages to Straight-on kicking: 

Easiest to learn. 
Ball gets higher more quickly. 
Requires less contortion of the body, legs, and feet. 

Disadvantages to Straight-on kicking: 

Most kids start kicking the ball with the toe, yet approach the ball
at an angle, thus combining the straight-on and soccer-style
approaches without realizing it, resulting in awkward form and
decreased accuracy.
There are very few soccer-style kicking coaches  and fewer straight-on
kicking coaches.
Generally not taught in college and not at all in the pros. 
Not as accurate using today?s soccer shoes.  You have to purchase a
special straight-on shoe or an attachment for the shoe, both of which
are hard to find in local sporting goods stores.
Attaching the accessory is hard. 
Many kickers also play another position.  To change into a kicking
shoe is time consuming.
The ball does not travel as far. 
A kicker who uses a soccer shoe to kick straight-on has to make
contact with approximately a 1? area of the tip of the shoe,
magnifying minor form errors.
Developing leg strength takes a lot longer. 

Advantages to Soccer-style kicking: 

More accurate because the soccer-style kick can use almost a 6? area
of the shoe to make contact.
Minor form errors are not as likely to cause a miss. 
More power in the leg swing, resulting in greater distance. 

Disadvantages to Soccer-style kicking: 

THE MOST DIFFICULT POSITION TO MASTER SUCCESSFULLY 
Once learned there are no disadvantages 

Kicking barefoot. 

Kicking barefoot is not recommended, as it poses a severe danger to
the toes and skin.  Frequently, you will kick the tee and the ground,
and it is painful enough to hit either while wearing a shoe, let alone
not wearing one.

----------
 
From this Site: http://www.goodfor3.com/kicking02.htm

Ton's of tips to read from a former PRO:
 

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF PLACEKICKING 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Warm-ups 
Stretching 
Kicking routine 
Mental routine 
Proper distance and angle from the ball at ball address 
Foot placement at ball address 
Position of arms, shoulders and hips at ball address 
Where to look when waiting for the ball to be snapped 
What to think as the ball is snapped 
Timing with the center, holder and you 
When to start the take-off for the kick 
Steps 
Where to look when approaching the ball 
Proper take-off toward the ball 
Foot speed at the approach 
Position of hips and shoulders at ball approach 
Position of arms at ball approach 
Position of kicking foot prior to the kick 
Positions of kicking thigh and knee at explosion into the ball 
Position of arms at contact 
Foot placement and angle of planting foot at contact 
Position of head at contact. 
Position of shoulders at contact 
Position of hips at contact 
What part of the ball to kick 
What part of the foot kicks the ball 
Position of laces, tilt and angle of the ball on contact 
Ball rotation on contact 
Position of head during follow-through 
Position of shoulders during follow-through 
Position of arms during follow-through 
Position of planting foot during follow-through 
Position of hips during follow-through 
Position of kicking foot during follow-through 
Position of head after follow-through 
Position of kicking foot after follow-through 
Where to land after follow-through 
Speed of ball rotation after the kick 
Holding the ball 
Which hand to hold the ball 
Wind direction and speed 
Temperature 
Seam vs. panel vs. laces 
Accuracy 
Indicator as to why the kick missed 
Increasing traction 
Kick-off 
Normal kick-off 

Shooters/Line Drives 
Squib kicks

On-side kick-off 

Line-drives 
High bouncers

Practice Drills 

How many balls to kick 
Accuracy 
Learn to fall down 
Concentration exercises 
Bad hold 
Bad snap 
Start-stop-restart 
Missed-hold drill

Height 
Maximum Distance 
Quick kick 
Bad holder 
Weekly workout schedule 
Game day schedule 
Miscellaneous 
Adjustments for missed kicks 
Injuries 
Weight training 
Equipment  
Glossary 


Hope these help
thanks
Eric

They are all over complicating a very simple process.

1) When your plant foot lands before you kick have your hands out in
front of you like you're pushing a shopping cart
2) As your kicking the ball pull your hands to you like a rowing stroke
3) Ensure your kick follow through is in the direction of the travel
of the ball.  For example if your right footed your right leg should
follow through in the direction you wanted the ball to go, you make a
slight hopping motion landing on your left foot.

True power in kicking a soccer ball does not come from your legs as
mentioned above.  It comes from your abdomen, so for that extra
distance and power you need to develop strong abs.  When I was playing
football in college I was clocked shooting soccer balls over 65 miles
per hour, I understand what it takes to generate the power.

Excercises that will help you should be strengthening the core muscles
in your abdomen.  Sit ups, flutter kicks, and the plank (modified push
up position, only resting on your elbow/forearm and your toes, there
is no motion just hold your back straight and you'll quickly feel the
burn in your abs).  Google "strengthening core abdomen muscles" and
you'll find several more detailed explanations.