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General Trapping Principles
- Get in line of flight.
- Adjust position to select surface.
- Cushion ball.
- Land 2 to 3 feet away, ready for next action.
Selecting
trapping surface
Three groups
of balls:
Ground to
knee-high balls
Level Balls -
Use the inside of the foot below the ankle bone to stop the ball, then
withdraw the foot, absorbing the force off of the ball or redirecting it as
necessary. Keep focus on the ball, don't wedge trap ground balls as this
doesn't allow for repositioning. Cushion the ball (soft feet) for better
control.
Descending or
rising balls - Smother the ball at the moment it strikes the ground,
position the toe up forming a wedge, pre-position the foot in the path of
the ball's flight. The ball can also be caught and cushioned with the
instep. Don't position the foot to high as this will allow the ball to
bounce under the foot.
Thigh-high
balls
Level &
descending balls - Use the middle portion of the thigh, withdraw the thigh
as the ball strikes it so that the ball bounces slightly up and forward,
landing in a ready position. Keep ball in front of the player and not to the
side. Cushion ball well so that the ball does not bounce to far away from
the player.
Chest-high
balls
Level balls -
Using the middle of the chest, expand the chest and draw the shoulders
forward before the ball strikes. Exhale and collapse the chest at impact to
cushion and catch the ball. Make sure the ball strikes the center of the
chest so that it doesn't bounce of to the left or the right. Make sure the
ball does not strike to high and hit the player in the throat or face.
Rising balls
- Bend forward and deflect the ball down with the lower chest or abdomen.
Keep the ball center for better control.
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