Imagine a scenario where 50% of the soccer coaching drills should adopt development of trapping skills as their focal point. You will not be convinced with the statement. But interestingly, researchers say that trapping, besides dribbling and passing is mainly responsible for consistently winning matches.
The ability to capture the ball and retain it for a considerable time is called trapping. Soccer exercises like these let the players use their feet, chest and thighs for this.
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. Below mentioned methods can be used to teach trapping skills to the players.
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.
During soccer coaching drills, the high ranking and senior players should be educated on the use of foot, its crown, and instep of the foot plus the whole foot. Guide the players to use their shin or ankle as the best bet to hold the ball if the ball is leaping too much.
Thigh Movement: Using your thigh to control rapid and bouncy ball is an excellent approach. Guide the players to come in front of the ball, take one thigh up to capture the ball and other thigh to stay grounded. 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 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: Just like the thigh, chest too has a vital role to play in trapping the ball flying high in the air. Train the players to confront the ball head on by taking their chest out in full force in order to control the ball. The ball will therefore loose its pace immediately and drop down right away 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 become a serious issue if they tend to become habitual of tackling the ball with hands.
These soccer coaching drills should be then acted upon instantly. Make the players practice these more and more. 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.
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