| Being able to trap and control ball is important for any | | | | rough spot. Make sure to work on trapping skills early |
| soccer player. No matter the trajectory of the ball's | | | | in your season and often. Get the fundamentals of |
| arrival, a good soccer player must be able to receive | | | | trapping down while your players are stationary, and |
| and control it to maintain possession. Youth soccer | | | | then take trapping drills to a moving platform. |
| coaches hoping to produce quality players should | | | | Most of all, good trapping skills are developed through |
| focus a good amount of effort on making sure their | | | | repetition so make sure you have a list of drills that |
| players learn to adequately trap the ball. | | | | build trapping skills and give players lots of touches on |
| Whether it is a pass from a teammate, a clearance | | | | the ball. |
| from the goaltender, or a cross from the outside, | | | | Focus on teaching players to cushion the impact of the |
| maintaining possession is vital. Your team will not be | | | | ball like a pillow, and try to drop the ball directly to their |
| able to control the game if you can't even control the | | | | feet. |
| ball. The team that dominates possession during a | | | | If you are short on trapping, skills, finishing, possession, |
| game usually creates more scoring opportunities A | | | | overlapping, defending or any other type of drill you |
| good first touch on the ball is often the difference | | | | could imagine, this youth soccer coaching manual can |
| between getting that goal and getting stripped of the | | | | give you pre-planned practices and various drills that |
| ball. | | | | will keep practice fun, exciting, and informative for your |
| If your players fail to trap and control the ball and | | | | players. |
| constantly give away possession, you will be in a very | | | | |