Today we are learning how to chest a soccer
ball.
What’s going on?
Little dap!
It’s Emily Grant, former pro, current college
coach and coach with Online Soccer Academy.
Learning to chest a ball will improve your
ball control.
First touch is so important in this game.
Taking a ball out of the air on your chest
is part of having a great first touch.
This video will cover the fundamental key
points to chest trapping a ball straightforward.
Key Points!
Key Point One.
Arms in, not out.
When the ball is coming to your chest you
want your arms in.
This will help protect you in case a defender
crashes into your side.
What you don’t want is your arms out like
you are trying to fly away.
You certainly don’t get style points for
that!
Key Point Two.
Feet Shoulder Width Apart.
For good balance have your feet shoulder width
apart.
Key Point Three.
Have a Slight Bend in your Knees.
Key Point Four.
Lean Back Slightly.
As the ball is getting close to you, lean
back slightly in preparation of receiving
it.
If you lean back too far the ball will go
behind you or up too high.
If the ball goes behind you and you didn’t
want it to that’s a bad touch.
If the ball goes up too high in the air, it’s
not that’s it’s a bad touch, but it’s
not a smart touch.
The reason is it takes an extra second or
two for the ball to come back down.
This extra second or two is more time for
a defender to close you down.
You don’t want that!
Key Point Five.
Receive the Ball Right Below your Clavicle
Bone.
The ball should hit right below your clavicle
bone and right above your chest line.
Key Point Six.
Cushion or Pop the Ball.
If the ball is coming hard at you then cushion
the ball in by absorbing it right when the
ball is about to hit you.
You do this by leaning back right when the
ball is about to hit you.
It’s like catching an egg.
Would you catch an egg like this?
No, because it would hit your hands and break.
You’d catch an egg by cushioning it in.
Same idea applies to a fast ball coming at
you.
If the ball is coming soft at you, then you
need to pop the ball off your chest more.
This is because the ball’s natural momentum
isn’t much so you have to give it that extra
pop.
Key Point Seven.
Control the Ball One to Two Feet ahead of
you.
In most situations when chest trapping you
want your touch to put the ball one to two
feet ahead of you.
If the ball is too close to your body when
you trap it then it’s awkward to try and
kick it on your second touch.
Versus taking a touch one to two feet ahead
of you and this sets you up for a smooth kick.
Remember it’s not easy to make it look easy,
you want to be the type of player that makes
it look easy.
An exercise to practice is chest trapping
with a partner.
You will need a partner and a ball.
Have your partner stand a few feet away with
the ball in their hands.
They toss it to you with two hands and underhand
service.
You control it on your chest and pass it back
on the ground or out of the air depending
on your skill level.
Repeat this for one minute and then switch.
Do two sets each.
Mini Bonus Tip!
It’s easier for the player receiving the
ball if it’s a firm, straight toss versus
a high lobbed toss.
How To Make It More Challenging!
After two sets, make it more challenging by
having your partner mix it up and serve it
to you faster and softer versus perfect every
time.
This way you have to adapt as the ball is
traveling whether you should cushion it in
or pop it forward.
Repeat this for one minute and then switch.
Do two sets each.
What’s Wrong!
If the ball is going up too high or behind
you when you trap it then you are leaning
too far back.
Remember it’s a slight lean back, not a
limbo lean back!
Bonus Tip!
Don’t be scared when the ball hits you!
If you are like ouch, I hope this doesn’t
hurt, OMG I hope the ball never comes to me
in the air… then you are bound to have a
bad touch every time.
Yes, it might hurt when you are first learning
to chest trap, but you will get over it!
Be a baller, not a baby!
Hope you enjoyed this Online Soccer Academy
video!
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My name is Emily Grant and remember if you
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work, anything in life is possible.
Believe in it®!
