This Winter, Champion’s QUEST Soccer Academy will be hosting 2 skill clinics on Tuesdays and Wednesdays:
1st Touch
A soccer player’s first touch on the ball might be their single most important skill that they develop. A successful soccer player knows that they need to gain control of the ball before they can do anything with it. A first touch can be the difference from being a good and a great soccer player.
At a young age, soccer players are taught to use their feet or body to cushion or trap the ball so that it stops directly in front of them. However, if the ball stops right in front of them, then the soccer player is likely to be facing the direction that the ball has just come from and where the opponent will be pressuring from. Also, by stopping the ball, the player is now stationary and needs to re-start their momentum.
In our Soccer 1st Touch Clinics, we will be focusing this quarter on:
- body position of the player receiving the ball in relation to their opponents and the field
- receiving the ball with different surfaces and onto the ground as quickly as possible -controlling the ball into space and using vision to set up the next play
- maintaining speed with the ball after first touch
Finishing
Proper kicking technique is another essential skill that a soccer player must possess when passing to a teammate or striking the ball on goal. Throughout the flow of a soccer game, different techniques of striking the ball are required depending on the situation. A soccer player should be able to identify the proper technique needed and apply this quickly.
Soccer players are taught at a young age to only use the inside of their foot to pass the ball. While this will give them control and accuracy, it is not the proper way to generate the most power on their shots on goal. Young soccer players tend to want to kick with their toe because it gets instant results at the younger ages. However, a player who can strike the soccer ball with their laces or “instep” will generate more power and consistency.
In our Soccer Finishing Clinics, we will be focusing this quarter on:
- a good approach up and plant next to the ball
- striking the ball with the laces of the shoe -finishing the kick through the ball and landing on the kicking foot
- single leg balance and stability for injury prevention
