| Soccer is by far the most followed and watched | | | | Perhaps the most widely used method when it |
| sport in the world. It has been documented that | | | | comes to drilling ball control skills is the obstacle |
| more than 250 million people around the world today | | | | course. This comprises placing a few sticks or poles in |
| play soccer whether at professional level, amateur | | | | a straight line while leaving sufficient gaps. Then the |
| level, for leisure and amusement or just as part of | | | | player will be required to dribble the ball through the |
| growing up, never mind the thousands of amateur | | | | gaps and round the sticks without losing control of |
| competitions that are organized around the world on | | | | the ball or touching any of the sticks. This feat is by |
| weekends or other holidays. | | | | no means easy but is one of the best proven ways |
| However the growth of the professional side of the | | | | to improve a player's ball control skills. |
| sport since the invention of the game in England in | | | | Whether as a football coach or as a player, this might |
| the 19th century has been nothing short of | | | | start with relatively larger gaps between the sticks |
| phenomenal. Today, soccer is played with a precision | | | | and as the player improves, the gaps are reduced |
| and skill never before thought possible and even by | | | | until it is no longer practical to do so any farther. |
| kids in their teens. Just watch any of the FIFA Under | | | | Then the ball control skills can be elevated to the |
| 19 or under 17 tournaments and you are sure to be | | | | next stage. |
| impressed and entertained. | | | | Once the player seems to be able to control the ball |
| Many people with more than a passing interest in the | | | | well through the poles and sticks, it is then time to |
| sport wonder how exactly the beauty we see in the | | | | replace them with opposing players whose task will |
| professional soccer stadiums or even in our TV sets | | | | be to stop the ball. It can start with two players and |
| comes around. In short, what kind of training does a | | | | then progress to more players as the player |
| player have to go through in order to be the next | | | | improves. Of course if there are many players taking |
| Kaka, Ronaldo and the likes? | | | | part in the training drills they can take turns at the |
| Apart from the recognition that developing a player | | | | ball. |
| into a world class soccer player starts at a very early | | | | After this it will be time for the players to learn how |
| age, there are literally hundreds of training manuals | | | | to stop the ball and control it if it is played at them |
| used in soccer academies all over the world. Soccer | | | | from different positions and heights. This is normally |
| training drills which are designed to help soccer | | | | referred to as ball trapping. The player will have to |
| players develop varying skills are the most integral | | | | learn how to quickly bring the ball under control |
| part of any aspiring or current soccer player's life. If | | | | without losing it since in a soccer match they will |
| you are interested in starting from the very | | | | have very little time to do so before the opposing |
| beginning, this article intends to take you through the | | | | players are onto him. The ball can also be played to |
| very basics of soccer drills and training. | | | | him at increasing speed and force to enhance |
| For most coaches and players it begins with ball | | | | mastery. |
| control skills. Ball control skills form the every essence | | | | This soccer training drills will form the basis of ball |
| of soccer and the foundation on which all other | | | | control skills for beginner players. Many professional |
| soccer training drills will be centered. It is important | | | | players still undergo the drills in a bid to keep |
| that the trainee has access to a standard soccer ball | | | | improving because and I emphasize again, ball control |
| (preferable fulfilling FIFA regulations) and a good pair | | | | is the most important skill a soccer player can ever |
| of cleats or soccer boots. As in any other discipline | | | | have. |
| good equipment is important. | | | | |