Youth soccer players should practice soccer ball trapping regularly. Soccer ball trapping is the foundation of a player's ability in possession. A player who can settle a ball and pass or dribble will be very effective. Players who have a heavy touch or lose possession due to their poor soccer ball trapping will consistently lose possession and cause problems for their team with turnovers.
Alone
You can perform soccer ball trapping exercises alone as long as you have a soccer ball and a wall or rebounder. A player can kick the ball against the wall and practice soccer ball trapping as it comes back to her. Coaching points you should remember when you trap a soccer ball are to plant your standing foot next to the ball, contact the ball with the side of your foot at mid height, and to move your foot back upon impact to absorb the impact and settle the ball. When trapping a soccer ball aim to settle it one step away rather than have it trapped under your feet.
When alone kick a ball to the wall firmly and trap it on the return. Practice with your left foot, right foot as well as trapping bouncing balls. Perform 50 to 100 repetitions of each as improvement comes through repetition and time.
Team
With a team, it is easy to practice soccer ball trapping exercises that incorporate movement, and defenders. Use a 20-yard box and split your group in half. A group of eight will have four players spread equally around the outside of the box. The players on the inside will run and call for a pass, before trapping and passing the ball back. After passing the ball, players should run to receive from a different player. This soccer ball trapping exercise can also develop movement and communication.
As players become comfortable, you can add defensive pressure. Begin with passive pressure where a defender follows, but does not attempt to tackle the player. After success against passive pressure, allow the defender to intercept or tackle, forcing a player to get into space and trap away from defensive pressure.
Defensive Pressure
Soccer ball trapping exercises can introduce the concept of avoiding defensive pressure. Players who trap the ball in the direction of an onrushing defender will likely lose possession. If a player receives a ball from the left and a defender is pressuring on his left shoulder, he should open up his hips and trap the ball, allowing it to roll a step away to the right. Practice this by using four players in a 10-yard box. Place two servers on each end of the box. Server A has the ball with the defender next to him. The server passes the ball to the live player and the defender closes down. The live player traps the ball, turning away from the pressure and passing to server B. Repeat the same thing in the other direction.
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