Let’s say that at least 50% of soccer coaching drills must concentrate on improving player’s trapping skills. You would probably dismiss it as a fancy. But you know what! According to a study, in addition to dribbling and passing, trapping too plays a vital role in helping teams win matches.
Trapping is the skill which enables a player to catch the ball and keep it close to himself. These are soccer exercises that permit the use of chest, thighs and feet while doing so.
It is imperative that your players know how to trap the ball. If the players don’t know how to trap the ball, the primary skill, they would fail to have control over the game. Trapping skills of the players can be enhanced by following the ways mentioned here.
Engaging the feet: Firstly, train your players in using their feet to deal with the ball which is a basic skill. Especially with younger players in kids soccer drills, it is important to make them use the inside of their foot. This is because the inside area of the foot id wide and very useful in engaging with the ball.
Older and well-established players in soccer coaching drills should be trained to use their full foot, just the top, or instep. In cases where the ball bounces a lot, it is best to make them use their shin or ankle to tackle the ball.
Thigh Movement: Speedy and bouncy ball can be controlled by simply using the thigh. Train the players to stop the ball with one thigh, get stable using the other, after getting in front of the ball. It is important to learn that as soon as the ball meets the thigh, the knee should be dropped so that the ball drops right there and does not move away from the player.
This activity has to be practiced regularly in order to become an expert at it by first using the knee to catch the ball and then bringing the knee down to prevent it from getting away.
Use the Chest: You can also use your chest to trap the ball that is high up in the air, just like your thigh. Players should be positioned in front of the ball to face it but using the energy through their chest to stop it. As a result the ball will loose its tempo almost immediately and will fall down at once.
Nevertheless, soccer training drills should be careful not to expose young players too much to this skill. It is natural for them to use their hands in dealing with the ball while attempting to use their chest. This can prove to be dangerous as the kids might develop a habit of using their hands while tackling the ball.
Now its time to start putting these soccer coaching drills into action. Encourage the players to practice these to a great extent. By subscribing to our youth soccer coaching community, keep yourself updated on the latest in the field.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is known online as “The Expert Youth Soccer Coach” and his free ebooks and reports have been downloaded more than 100,000 times. Learn how to skyrocket your players’ skills and make training fun in record time. Download your free ebook at: http://www.soccerdrillstips.com – Youth Soccer Training Drills.
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