Introduction
Trapping is one of soccer’s most fundamental individual skills. Mastery of trapping sets up everything that a player and the whole team wish to accomplish during a match, including maintaining possession of the ball, passing, and shooting.
The skill of trapping is the act of receiving the ball, getting it under control, and setting it up in a proper position for performance of the next skill. The steps involved in trapping the ball are:
- Deciding which trap to use
- Deciding where to place the ball at the end of the trap
- Positioning the body and body part to meet the ball
- Taking the pace off the ball
- Directing the ball to the desired location in order to make the next move
Demonstration
There are many different types of traps, however, beginning players may wish to concentrate on the following:
- Sole of the foot
- Inside of the foot
- Thigh (both inside and front)
- Chest
These are best practiced with the parent acting as a competent server, either gently rolling or tossing the ball to the player, depending on the trap being used.
Beginning players are tempted to trap the ball to a dead stop and then back up from the ball in order to run up and kick it. This should be demonstrated as “what not to do” and corrected when it occurs. It should be demonstrated that after a dead trap the ball is immediately tapped out in front and then moved onto.
An analogy which may be used to describe the art of trapping is that it is like catching an uncooked egg. You want to be out in front with the body part and then give and relax to take the pace/force off of the ball (egg) as you “catch” it so that it doesn’t break or slip away.
Drill
Parents as “servers:”
- Parent sends an inside of the foot pass or “bowls” the ball to the player. Player traps with the sole of the foot, taps the ball in front and sends an inside of the foot pass back. Left then right. Same for inside of the foot trap.
- Parent serves gentle, two-handed, under-hand, low toss directly to the player’s correct thigh. Player traps, taps the ball in front and sends an inside of the foot pass back. Left inside then top. Right inside then top.
- Parent serves gentle, two-handed, under-hand, low toss directly to the player’s chest. Player traps, taps the ball in front and sends an inside of the foot pass back. For older players, this can also be an opportunity to introduce them to correct serving technique. You may have them try performing the drills above.
