Let us suppose that 50% of the soccer coaching drills have focused on perfecting the trapping skills of their players. You won’t take it seriously. 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 ability of the players to intercept the ball and then keep it near their body. Such soccer exercises allow players to use thighs, feet and chest in doing so.
It’s vital for your players to master the skill of trapping 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. There are a few practices that will prove helpful in improving the trapping skills of 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. 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: A thigh is very useful in controlling the fast and bouncy approaching ball. Instruct the players to get in front of the ball, stand on one feet and rise the other thigh to stop 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: Trapping a ball flying high in the air with the use of your chest is also equally useful, like the use of thighs. Players should be positioned in front of the ball to face it but using the energy through their chest to stop it. This will have the effect of breaking the ball’s speed and tumbling it down immediately.
But make sure that in soccer training drills, this technique should not be rigorously taught to the young players. 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.
It’s time now to execute these soccer coaching drills. Ensure that the players increasingly practice these. 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.