February 25, 2010
Imagine a scenario where 50% of the soccer coaching drills should adopt development of trapping skills as their focal point. You won’t take it seriously. But No! Research shows that trapping along with passing and dribbling skills alone decide whether your team is capable of winning matches or not.
When a player catches the ball and is able to maintain its possession with him, it’s trapping. In such soccer exercises, they can use their feet, chest, and thighs to do so.
Players must be familiar with the job of trapping the ball. If they can’t trap the ball, they are sure to lose their grip over the match because this is very basic. Below mentioned methods can be used to teach trapping skills to the players.
Involve the Feet: Primarily, the coach must teach the players to use their feet in tackling the ball. In kids soccer drills, the kids must be particularly trained on using the inside of their foot. The fact that the inside area of the foot is large makes it easy for the players to hold the ball.
In soccer coaching drills, players can be taught to use the instep or crown of the foot along with entire foot when the players are senior and established. 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. Most importantly, practice dropping your knee once it connects with the ball for the ball to drop down and stay with you rather than getting away.
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. Make the players stand in front of the ball and then ask them to take their chests out as if to confront the ball. This will have the effect of breaking the ball’s speed and tumbling it down immediately.
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 practice could lead to a problem by kids getting comfortable using their hands to deal with 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.

