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.
The ability to capture the ball and retain it for a considerable time is called trapping. Such soccer exercises allow players to use thighs, feet and chest in doing so.
Players must be familiar with the job of trapping the ball. Failing to do so would mean that they can never be in command of the game since this is imperative. Below mentioned methods can be used to teach trapping skills to the players.
Make use of your feet: Make your players learn the primary skill of involving their feet in holding the ball. Especially with younger players in kids soccer drills, it is important to make them use the inside of their foot. It is emphasized for the reason that inside area of the foot is big enough to catch hold of the ball.
If the players are advanced and mature, teach them to use the instep or top of the foot as well as the whole foot in trapping the ball during the soccer coaching drills. 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: Using your thigh to control rapid and bouncy ball is an excellent approach. Instruct the players to get in front of the ball, stand on one feet and rise the other thigh to stop the ball. Practice the skill of retaining the ball with you after it meets your thigh by learning to bring down your knee so the will plunge and settle close to you.
This exercise of dropping the knee needs to be done repetitively so that the players master the art of first stopping the ball using the knee and then drop it so that the ball trickles down the feet.
Use the Chest: Just like the thigh, chest too has a vital role to play in trapping the ball flying high in the air. Make the players stand in front of the ball and then ask them to take their chests out as if to confront the ball. When they do so, the ball will instantly loose its speed and easily get down to the feet.
But keep in mind that in soccer training drills, young players are given only a few modest lessons on this technique. It is very typical of them to use their hands while trying to stop the ball with the 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. If you wish to learn a great deal of such tips and tricks, subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community.
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.
