Grade: Senior
Subject: Phys Ed

#1022. Passing, Trapping, & Heading Soccer Skills

Phys Ed, level: Senior
Posted Thu Apr 22 08:41:03 PDT 1999 by Deirdre Smith (deeandchris@juno.com).
Republic High School, Republic, MO
Materials Required: gymnasium, soccer balls, cones.
Activity Time: 30 minutes
Concepts Taught: Use of balance, coordination, and spatial awareness

Anticipatory Set: Soccer is a sport that is enjoyed by children, men, and women of all ages. In order to be a successful soccer player, it is important to master the many skills involved in the sport. Today we are going to work on 3 major skills. The skills we will be working on today are passing, trapping, and heading.

Objectives: The students will be able to demonstrate the use of good balance and coordination while doing the skills. The students will be able to demonstrate the use of good spatial awareness.

Input/Modeling/Lesson Notes: The students will listen to an explanation of the skills, and then watch a demonstration of the skills. I will put them in groups of 3 or 4, depending on how many people are in the class. After that, they will work with their groups on the skills they were just taught. The first skill they will learn is passing.
1. Short Passes - Most short passes are made with the inside of the foot. Lean forward and over the ball. Stand on the balls of the feet with the knees slightly bent and the feet shoulder width apart. The arms should be out for balance. Plant the weak foot beside the ball with the toes pointing toward the target. Strike forward and through the ball with the inside of the strong foot. Follow through by lifting that knee up.
2. Long Passes - Most long passes are made by chipping the ball, or by striking the ball with great force. In most cases, loft is created under the ball. The stance is exactly the same as the short pass, except you lean back instead of forward.
The second skill we will be learning is trapping the soccer ball. Always stand on the balls of your feet with your knees slightly bent. Various parts of the body are used as shock absorbers to trap the soccer ball. The soccer ball should be treated like a fragile egg, and you should always give with the ball when trapping it.
1. Trapping with the sole of the foot or the inside of the foot.
2. Top of the foot trap - As the ball is coming down toward the ground, let it touch the top of your foot lightly. Be sure to give with the ball, so you don't lose control of it.
3. Chest trap - Flex the chest muscles to create a shock absorber for the ball that is in the air. Lean back and give with the ball.
4. Thigh trap - Lift the leg up and trap the ball with the top of the thigh. Remember to give with the ball for control.
The last skill that the students will be learning is heading the soccer ball. Heading can be used to pass, shoot, or trap the ball. Stress the safety techniques of this skill! 1. Attack the ball with the center of the forehead just above the eyebrows. 2. Keep the arms out as a shield to protect yourself from other players. 3. Keep your eyes open at all times. Always stand with the feet shoulder width apart,be aware of the people around you, use good posture, and concentrate. Aim for a target when heading the soccer ball. Lean back to create loft, and lean forward to shoot the ball directly. Have the students get with their partners and work on the skill.

Checking For Understanding: Monitor the students subjectively, and give them immediate and frequent feedback to make sure they are doing all of the skills correctly.

Guided Practice: Give an explanation of the skill, and then do a demonstration of the skill.

Independent Time: The students will have time to practice the skills with their groups while I monitor them to be sure they are all on task.

Closure: Give the students encouragement, and let them know how well they did in class. Review some of the things covered in class today, and give a brief preview of tomorrow's class.