Chest Traps: Coaching Points For Teaching Chest Traps to Young Players

In order to keep possession in soccer it is critical that players master the art of maintaining possession. Since the chest is the largest surface of the body, it can easily be used to cushion the ball down to the players’ feet. Since the position of the body is slightly different when chesting a flighted ball opposed to a bouncing ball we will cover both techniques.

Chest Trap: Flighted Ball

1. The body should be positioned behind the flight of the ball.
2. Knees should be slightly bent.
3. Elbows should be held away from the body and hands clear of the chest surface.
4. Keep the shoulders and hips square to the ball.
5. Lean back slightly from the trunk of your body to absorb the pace of the ball.
6. Withdraw the chest immediately as the ball is touched.
7. Slightly concave your back to cushion the ball.
8. Touch the ball down to your feet.
9. Lean forward over the ball.
10. Move first touch to space and accelerate.

Chest Trap: Bouncing Ball

1. The body should be positioned behind the flight of the ball.
2. Knees should be slightly bent.
3. Elbows should be held away from the body and hands clear of the chest surface.
4. Keep the shoulders and hips square to the ball.
5. Bend at the waist and lean forward over the rising ball.
6. Withdraw the chest immediately as the ball is touched to cushion the ball back down to your feet.
7. Move first touch with feet to space and accelerate.

Chest Volley

More advanced players should learn to chest volley the ball. To chest volley the ball:

1. The body should be positioned behind the flight of the ball.
2. Knees should be slightly bent.
3. Elbows should be held away from the body and hands clear of the chest surface.
4. Keep the shoulders and hips square to the ball.
5. Lean back slightly from the trunk of your body.
6. As the ball touches the chest, push the chest out towards the ball slightly to pop the ball up.
7. Ready your feet and volley the ball to the target.

Receiving a Ball with your Chest

Receiving a ball with your chest is a bit different than trapping a ball with your chest. When a player receives the ball with their chest the player redirects the ball with their chest into space in one touch. Learning to properly receive a ball with your chest will allow players to move into space quicker and avoid high pressure situations.

Receiving with the Chest

1. The body should be positioned behind the flight of the ball.
2. The receiving player's shoulders should start almost square to the ball.
3. The hips are slightly open and the player should attempt to face them in the direction they are wishing to play the ball.
4. As the ball approaches the chest the player should start moving the chest in the direction in which he wishes to play.
5. The player should deflect the ball off into the direction they wish to move.
6. Attempt to keep the body over the ball as the ball moves into space.