Trapping a Soccer Ball

Trapping is how to stop a moving soccer ball, so you can gain control of it. Trapping can be done with the feet, thigh, chest, or head by getting in front of the ball and moving the part of the body that is doing the trapping in the same direction that the ball is moving. This will 'cushion' the ball, helping it to stop close to the body. Remember to relax and cushion the ballIt is important for young players to learn how to trap a soccer ball. Trapping a soccer ball means stopping the ball so one is able to control it. Trapping of the soccer ball is basic, but one of the most important soccer skills to teach soccer players. Many high school soccer players could easily improve their soccer game by improving their trapping of the soccer ball.

Trapping the soccer ball – how to trap the soccer ball.

The four main soccer trap skills are:

1) Roof Trap – stepping on a soccer ball that is low in the air.
2) Inside Foot Trap – side of the foot is used to trap the rolling soccer ball.
3) Chest Trap – chest is used to stop the soccer ball that is higher in the air.
4) Thigh Trap – stopping the knee-to-waist high soccer ball with the thigh.

a) How to trap a rolling ball:

Simply step on top of it or use the side of the foot to trap it.

b) How to trap a bouncing ball:

Estimate where the ball will hit the ground, move to that spot turning your foot sideways and off the ground. Trap the soccer ball with your instep as the ball hits the ground, allowing the backspin of the ball to bring it to you.
Some things which are most important to remember while trapping a ball in good and more accurate manner are

1. First touch

Effectively trapping the ball is arguably the most important skill a soccer player can have. The term "trapping" refers to the first contact a player makes with the ball in an effort to control it. It's common to hear shouts of "first touch" on the soccer field as a warning that a player does not have much time or space to control the ball. When a player traps the ball, it comes to a rest at the player's feet so he or she can then dribble, pass or shoot the ball.

2. Equal chance

A ball that is not in either team's possession is called a 50-50 ball. Trapping a 50-50 ball is significantly more difficult than trapping a teammate's pass because you likely have a player from the opposing team trying to shove you off the ball. To give yourself an advantage, keep your body in front of the opposing player, not just an arm or leg. Run toward the ball rather than waiting for it to come to you, but be careful not to run under a ball that's in the air.

3. Good footwork

The most common trap is with the foot. To trap the ball with your foot, make contact with the inside of your shoe, not with your laces or toe. When you first make contact with the ball, relax your foot slightly so it cradles the ball. A ball bouncing off a stiff foot has the same result of bouncing off a brick wall. Ideally, the ball should fall 6-inches to one foot in front of you so you have enough room to pass or shoot it.

4. Your Thigh

Occasionally the ball comes toward you at an awkward height. Rather than running backward or bringing your knee to your chest in an effort to control the ball with your foot, use your thigh to drop the ball to the ground. The ball should hit the meaty part of your thigh. Avoid making contact with your knee or hip. Keeps your knee pointing at an angle toward the ground so the ball rolls forward rather than bouncing up at your face. Again, you should attempt to cradle the ball instead of just letting it hit you.

5. No better than the Chest

It's difficult to drop the ball to your feet using your head in game play, so if you are bringing the ball down from the air, take a few steps to adjust your position and trap the ball with your chest. As the ball is coming at you, throw your shoulders back so you create a wide, flat spot for the ball to hit. Be sure to keep your hands down so the ball doesn't roll into them. Lean back slightly so the ball drops down to your feet rather than bouncing off you.

More Soccer ball trap tips:

A soccer player can practice trapping the ball by kicking it up against a wall. Be sure to practice trapping rolling balls, bouncing balls and balls that come back to you in the air. The goal of a trapped soccer ball is to gain control of it first, so that a good pass or shot can be executed. Learning to judge the ball correctly takes time and practice, but the benefits will show up in your soccer game almost immediately. When the ball comes back to you to trap it on the ground, allow the ball to knock your foot back a bit, so as to absorb the shock. This is known as “relaxing the foot.” This will deaden the ball and stop it at your feet almost instantly, if the foot moves slight back, is relaxed and allowed to absorb ball shock.


If the soccer ball has a lot of spin on it while in the air, the soccer player must learn how to counter the spin of the ball. A ball that is spinning forward and toward you should be trapped by moving the foot gently back; backward spins should be trapped utilizing the upper foot if possible. Side spinning soccer balls can sometimes be trapped between the foot and the ground, or simply toe- kicked straight up and in front of the soccer player to the thigh or chest, and then settled.

The gentle manner

• Move your feet quickly so you get your body in front of the ball
• Relax the body part you are going to trap the ball with (i.e., inside of foot, thigh, etc.)
• Give with the body part you are trapping with
• Pretend the body part is a pillow or something soft. You don't want the ball to go very far from you after it contacts your body