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. In such soccer exercises, they can use their feet, chest, and thighs to do so.

It is imperative that your players know how to trap the ball. If they can’t trap the ball, they are sure to lose their grip over the match because this is very basic. Trapping skills of the players can be enhanced by following the ways mentioned here.

Involve the Feet: Primarily, the coach must teach the players to use their feet in tackling the ball. Particularly in kids soccer drills, teach the kids to use 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.

Soccer Drills

Older and well-established players in soccer coaching drills should be trained to use their full foot, just the top, or instep. Train your players to adopt the strategy to apply ankle or shin to catch hold of the ball when it is jumping a lot.

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. While doing this, remember that the knee should some down when it comes in contact with the ball so that the ball remains within the player’s range.

Continue repeating this exercise till the time you learn it by heart i.e. stopping the ball with your thigh and then tumbling the thigh down so the ball stays somewhere close to you.

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. This will have the effect of breaking the ball’s speed and tumbling it down immediately.

Nevertheless, soccer training drills should be careful not to expose young players too much to this skill. When they try to tackle the ball using the chest, it is their normal tendency to use their hands. 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. Make the players practice these more and more. 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.