How To Control A Soccer Ball In 5 Easy Steps
In order to control the soccer ball successfully every time here are the 5 Easy Steps:
1. DECISIONS:
TO CONTROL OR NOT TO CONTROL?
Before you attempt to control the soccer ball, decide if you even need to control the ball in the first place. Sometimes you can actually fake that you are going to control the ball, then at the last second you let the ball continue in its path, deceiving the defender.
WHAT WILL BE THE END PRODUCT BE?
Next you must decide what the end product is going to be once you have controlled the ball i.e. do you want to control the ball to set up a shot, to move into space away from a defender, to keep possession, to pass the ball to a teammate.
2. CHOOSE THE PART OF THE BODY YOU ARE GOING TO USE TO CONTROL THE BALL.
If you are going to use a foot, decide if you are also going to use the grass to help as well. Many people refer to this as “trapping the ball”. Trapping the ball involves using the foot and the grass together to control the ball. You must time it so that as the ball lands on the grass, you use your instep or bottom of your foot to trap the ball onto the grass.
As well as the instep and bottom of the foot, you can also control the ball with the top of the foot, the thigh, the chest and the head. Once you have decided which body part to use, you move on to the next step.
3. MOVE INTO LINE WITH THE BALL
Move your body into line with the path of the ball using small steps and be on your toes to make last second adjustments as needed.
THE MORE WORK YOU DO BEFORE THE BALL ARRIVES, THE EASIER AND MORE EFFECTIVE THE WORK WILL BE WHEN THE BALL ARRIVES.
Often I see players not move enough before the ball arrives and then they have to stretch to the ball making it much more difficult to control. You need to move both side to side and forward/backward to meet the ball at the correct place so that you control the ball with the chosen body part.
4. CUSHION THE BALL
Allow the ball to connect with the selected body part and cushion the ball by withdrawing the body part as the two connect relaxing the muscles involved and allowing your body part to absorb the energy of the moving ball. Avoid being tense and rigid, this will result in the ball bouncing off the body part. You want the ball to simply slow down and drop in the required space. Remember playing “egg toss” when you were younger? The same principle applies.
5. CONTROL THE BALL INTO THE DESIRED SPACE.
Be aware of the space around you and control the ball into that space, remembering again what you want to do with the ball such as a shot or a pass. For example, if you want to produce a shot you would control the ball in front of the foot you will shoot with and at the correct distance and angle from it so that you can then step into the ball and take the shot.
In order to significantly improve as a soccer player it is essential that you spend the necessary time learning to control the ball. Your “First Touch” as it is often referred to is so important and it is often the factor that separates average players from very good players.
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52 Responses to “How To Control A Soccer Ball In 5 Easy Steps”
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Pretty good post. I just found your site and wanted to say
that I have really liked reading your posts. In any case
I’ll be subscribing to your blog and I hope you write again soon!
Thanks Katy, I appreciate your feedback and look forward to hearing from you again soon.
Loved your latest post, by the way.
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Inventor’s Design to Cool GU8 Soccer Team Evolves Into
Portable Misting Station Now Sold at Retail
Liquid Shade Reduces Risk for Heat-Stressed Sports Teams of All Ages
Santa Clara, CA FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – What started out as an inventor’s quick design effort to help cool off his daughter’s soccer team as it played under the blazing sun has evolved into one of this year’s most innovative products: Liquid Shade, a Portable Misting Station that helps reduce the risk of heat related injury and dehydration.
Liquid Shade is a self-contained battery operated cooling system provides instant relief for heat-stressed athletes of all ages by lowering ambient temperature up to 30 degrees. It refreshes and energizes up to eight people within a 10-foot radius of the unit. It is available at leading North American retail outlets at a cost of $399.95.
I visited your site and it looks like you have a wonderful product to help cool down soccer players and staff. Let me know if you have an affilliate program
Thank you much for that imformative entry.
How long did it take you to write this?
You made some good points here.
Great job! Can’t wait to start my own blog.
Thank you for a great blog.
I wrote a similar blog on this subject but you nailed it here.
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Well, you forced me into the impossible. You made me comment on a blog post. Kudos to you, swell work.
Great work! keep the posts coming… i’ll keep reading them. Thanks
Can we beat Chelsea and make it to the final?
Very nicely said.I noticed your blog post from Bing and found it interesting. How long have you kept the blog?Not long ago I recently set up a blog on my own and its been a very fun process. I’ve met some great people since then although it is frustrating sometimes! Oh well, thanks a ton for your article!
I wrote a similar blog on this subject but you nailed it here.
A Great blog post, I will be sure to save this post in my Propeller account. Have a good evening.
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I’m delighted! After reading your post I can tell you are passionate about your writing. Keep up the great work and I’ll return for more! Thank you.
Hi There, I just spent a little time reading through your posts, which I found entirely by mistake whilst researching one of my projects. Please continue to write more because it’s unusual that someone has something interesting to say about this. Will be waiting for more!
Soccer is my life and I´m waiting for the world cup 2010 because I think that this will be one of the best cups in the history.
Wow! Awesome post! This is what the Internet is really about!
Great article, good football coaching stuff is hard to find.Good site also for soccer coaching is http://www.grassrootscoaching.com
Well written and explained. Thank you for taking the time.
I like the layout of your blog. It is really amazing and I’m thinking about a similiar style and design for my site!
Hi, i must say fantastic site you have, i stumbled across it in Google. I love soccer and we will see who will win the world cup 2010
Hi there,I like your site and it looks very interesting and easy to read,really!. I am from Argentina. I love the Soccer and cannot wait till 11th June, can you?.But there is a problem camming from FIFA. It is that doesn´t choose the best teams in this planet for the World Cup which it should otherwise don´t call the World Cup a final, if you want to play soccer for the soul of competition then go to the olympics games. this is basically what the World Cup is turning to, and it su…, ire needed to beat portugal to be in and is not, jap beat lowly teams as bahrain, qatar, kuwait, to be in, is this justice I dont think so, just because you are in the World Cup it doesn´t mean that you have the quality to be in like jap can attes. Any way, I desire to watch a interesting final on 11th July and my favorite winner team is Honduras,and my favorite player is Del Piero.Good blog and keep going.Cu!
Great article Thank
you so much!
Plain and simple! I like your work!
Great post! Would mind guest posting on my blog?
Only several days remaining before the soccer World Cup 2010 takes place. I am certain, this will be the very best sports World Cup we have ever watched.
Guys, I hope, this will be the most exciting football WC we have ever watched.
Have you ever considered adding more videos to your blog posts to keep the readers more entertained? I mean I just read through the entire article of yours and it was quite good but since I’m more of a visual learner,I found that to be more helpful well let me know how it turns out!
An excellent article many thanks
Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.
England : USA 1:1 – You gotta be kidding me !!!
I really like the style of your writing. I found your blog on bing and decided to check out
Wow Italy 1 – 1 against Paraguay. You really are Champions.
Thanks for the nice post…
I love the world cup SOO much….the only thing i hate about it is the fact that it doesent go FOREVER…LOL……i just hope there is no serious injuries to my Favourite Players
Sorry to see the US going back.
So sorry that the Americans is going back :-O
Argentina is just squashing their adversaries in the world cup. Argentina is likely going to take it all, I pity whomever they’re playing next!
Thanks Podolski for this unforgetable win.
Great post thx a lot !
Spain – Germany0:1 bye bye Germany !
SPAIN – GERMANY0:1 goodbye Germany !!!
Man City is looking good this year. My bet on them to win break into the top 2.
Spurs may break into the top 4 this year at the expense of the gunners!
Maybe, but I wouldn’t write off Arsenal just yet.
We all adore soccer ! And your post proves it !!!