Introduction

Receiving the ball, formerly known as trapping, is one of soccer’s most fundamental individual skills. Mastery of receiving 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.  For the Instructional Soccer Program, the skill of receiving is the act of obtaining the ball from a pass, making sure it is under control, and then setting it up in a proper position for performance of the next skill. The steps involved in receiving the ball are:

• Deciding which receive to use
• Deciding where to place the ball after receiving it
• Positioning the body and body part to meet the ball
• Taking the pace off the ball as it is contacted
• Directing the ball to the desired location in order to make the next move

Demonstration

There are many different ways to receive the ball, however, beginning players should 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 receive 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 if a dead-ball trap occurs, the ball is immediately tapped out in front and then moved onto.

An analogy which may be used to describe the art of receiving 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 receives with the sole of the foot, tapping the ball in front and sends an inside of the foot pass back. Left then right. Same for inside of the foot receive.
• Parent serves gentle, two-handed, under-hand, low toss directly to the player’s correct thigh. Player receives with the thigh, tapping 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 receives with the chest, tapping 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.

FOR DETAILED INFORMATION ON HOW TO TEACH THIS SKILL, SEE:  Introduction to Receiving and Controlling (Trapping)