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 interestingly, researchers say that trapping, besides dribbling and passing is mainly responsible for consistently winning matches.
When a player catches the ball and is able to maintain its possession with him, it’s trapping. 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. Failing to do so would mean that they can never be in command of the game since this is imperative. Trapping skills of the players can be enhanced by following the ways mentioned here.
Use your feet: As a coach, you must teach the basic lesson of using the feet to maneuver the ball. Particularly in kids soccer drills, teach the kids to use inside of their foot. This is because the inside area of the foot id wide and very useful in engaging with 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: 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. 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: You can also use your chest to trap the ball that is high up in the air, just like your thigh. Teach your players to tackle the ball using their chest by getting in front of the ball and take their chest out. 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. 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.
It’s time now to execute these soccer coaching drills. Encourage the players to practice these to a great extent. Subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community and get a good deal of such guidelines and tricks.
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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