Trapping in Tight Spaces

After cushioning the catch, move forward with a burst of speed keeping the ball close.

Coach Clay
For Active.com

Description of Drill

Using four cones, create a grid approximately 25 yards by 25 yards. Each player should be inside the grid with their own ball. The players should have the balls in their hands. Each player simply tosses their ball into the air and then traps it. After they trap the ball they should have a quick 5-yard burst of speed with the ball at their feet, weaving through the other players within the grid. You should start your athletes off with their feet. Have them use the inside, outside and sole of their feet to trap the ball. After using their feet you can have them use their thighs. When doing this, the athletes must have forgiving thighs. This means that as the ball lands on their thighs they should cushion the blow by dropping their knees. This should allow the ball to fall gently onto the grass and enable them to start their 5-yard burst of speed with ease. Using their chest and head are also ways in which your athletes should be trapping and controlling the ball within the grid. Just as with the thigh trap, the athletes should be forgiving and really cushion the ball as it hits them allowing the ball a gentle return to the ground. To increase the drill's difficulty you can make the space tighter and decrease the size of the grid. You can also have the athletes juggle four or five times and then kick the ball up into the air and trap it as it comes down. If your athletes are proficient jugglers, be sure to use that method.

What Coaches Should Look For

Proper trapping technique is obviously the key to this drill. Your athletes should be trapping the ball close to their bodies and not allowing the ball to go flying away from them. When executed properly the ball should end up no farther than a yard from your body. Another important thing to look for and emphasize to your athletes is for them to look up as they dribble through the crowd after trapping the ball. They should be moving quickly for five yards and not running in to any other athletes.