Coaching Youth Soccer - How to Trap in Tight Spaces

As a youth soccer coach, you must teach young players to trap the soccer ball in tight spaces. To help us do this, we will create a grid that is 25 X 25 yards. Instruct each player to be inside the grid with each player having a ball. To start this drill, each player should start with the ball in their hands.

To start the drill, instruct each players to toss their ball into the air and trap it with a specific part of their body. Start with trapping with the inside, outside and sole of their feet, then advance to thigh traps, chest traps, then head traps. After the players trap the ball instruct them to make a quick 5 to 10 yard sprint with the ball at their feet, avoiding the other players within the grid.

To make this drill a bit more difficult, you should make the space tighter by reducing 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.

Coaches should look for proper trapping technique. To do so, make sure the soccer players are trapping the ball close to their bodies and not allowing the ball to run away from them. When trapped correctly the ball should be no farther than a yard from the soccer player's 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 to ten yards and not running in to any other athletes. If they do run into another athlete, have them do 10 push ups before returning to the game.