Let’s say that at least 50% of soccer coaching drills must concentrate on improving player’s trapping skills. 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.
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.
It is imperative that your players know how to trap 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.
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. 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. 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: A thigh is very useful in controlling the fast and bouncy approaching ball. Players should be taught to face of the ball, use one thigh to catch the ball and the other to stand on the ground. 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: Just like the thigh, chest too has a vital role to play in trapping the ball flying high in the air. Make the players stand in front of the ball and then ask them to take their chests out as if to confront the ball. The ball will therefore loose its pace immediately and drop down right away to the feet.
Nevertheless, soccer training drills should be careful not to expose young players too much to this skill. It is natural for them to use their hands in dealing with the ball while attempting to use their chest. This practice could lead to a problem by kids getting comfortable using their hands to deal with the ball.
Now is the time to carry out the soccer coaching drills. Encourage the players to practice these to a great extent. 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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