Receiving the ball is not as complicated as you may think. After a few practice sessions you will have pretty solid receiving skills.
Yet things can get difficult very quickly – what happens when you have an opponent at your back who is doing everything he can to clear the ball away from you? That’s tough, wouldn’t you agree?
The reason for why it is harder to receive the ball while being under pressure is that your brain needs to concentrate on two things at the same time.
Besides watching out for where your opponent is you need also to put the ball under control and do something useful with it.
Study Professional Soccer Players
So, how can you increase your receiving skills? You can start by studying professional soccer players either on TV or LIVE.
You should not study a fullback if you are playing as forward. It will improve your game in offense but it will surely not improve your abilities in defense.
While studying your favorite players, watch for how they move. Start by looking what he is doing before and after receiving the ball (shooting, passing, dribbling etc?).
Second thing you can do is to practice more. If you feel that receiving is something difficult try to practice longer and harder.
While performing receiving drills on your regular practice, your focus on them should be 100%. Plus, you must have confidence in what you are doing as well!
Don’t walk around and talk with your teammates during your practice. You will not only lose focus on the drill but your coach may get angry and send you off the field.
Third way to improve you receiving skills is to practice alone. The only thing you will need is a ball, a piece of ground and a wall.
Using a Wall For Practice
Many great soccer players have gain their tremendous receiving skills by kicking the ball against a wall.
This is a great drill and the wall will never complain and you will be able to practice on different methods of receiving (chest, inside of the foot, outside of the foot etc).
Keep in mind that you will not become a good soccer player overnight. You need to practice, practice and practice again.
If someone told you that you can become a good soccer player without practicing then that person is a liar.
Always try to perform better and don’t be satisfied if you have been voted as the player of the match. Try instead to be that player next game as well.
Now, let me present few receiving methods that you will use during your games…
Inside is The Most Basic Technique
This is the most frequently used tecunique for receiving. While it is a pretty basic skill, you’ll need to spend many hours before mastering it completely. One of the best methods for learning this technique is to kick the ball against a wall and then try to receive it by using the inside.
Use Instep When You Are Not Under Pressure
This part of your foot is usually effective when a ball is dropping and you have time to gain control over it without pressure from opponents. You may also use the instep part when trying to steal the ball back from your opponent with a slide tackle.
Use Your Thigh When The Opponent is Marking You
This part of your body is very effective for controlling the ball when you have an opponent behind you. The part of the thigh that you will use to control the ball can be marked just about the bottom of your shorts.
Cushion The Ball on Your Chest
This is the largest area of your body. It may hurt a little while practicing on your chest control especially if the ball is hard. To avoid this you should try to be relaxed and let the ball cushion on your chest just like landing on a pillow. This method of controlling the ball is especially useful in situations with little space and many opponents around you.
Recommended Reading
- Useful tips for indoor soccer and common pitfalls.
- How long does it take to learn how to play soccer actually?
- Discover how to improve your soccer game vision today!
Summary
Receiving a ball in any condition is going to be a very powerful skill to have! It can’t be said enough: practice until you just can’t practice anymore. You’ll thank yourself later when you truly have some stellar skill on the field!