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In soccer video games, “ball-trapping”—shortly altering route after receiving a cross to transition into an assault—is a essential maneuver. This motion can considerably affect the stream of a match, particularly when executed successfully within the house between an opponent’s midfield and defensive traces. Nevertheless, the particular bodily methods utilized by expert ball-trappers throughout precise gameplay haven’t been nicely understood.
In a brand new examine revealed within the Worldwide Journal of Sports activities Science & Teaching, researchers examined ball-trapping motion involving a 180-degree directional change amongst college soccer gamers. The movement sequence—together with stopping the ball, altering route, and passing—was recorded utilizing infrared cameras. Individuals have been divided into two teams:
A complicated group consisting of gamers with expertise on the nationwide match stage.
An intermediate group with out such expertise.
The outcomes confirmed that superior gamers dedicated fewer trapping errors than intermediate gamers, largely attributable to extra correct alignment of their ft in relation to the middle of the ball. Additionally they absorbed the ball’s momentum extra successfully by executing a fast outward rotation of the ankles. As well as, a sophisticated participant tended to rotate their physique and pelvis towards the supposed route of motion when trapping the ball. They pre-positioned their ft to help this movement, permitting them to alter route easily and preserve stability whereas sustaining ball management.
These findings exhibit that superior gamers carry out environment friendly and purposeful trapping by anticipating directional adjustments and making ready their actions upfront whereas sustaining management of the ball.
This analysis gives priceless insights for soccer gamers looking for to enhance their ball-trapping expertise.
Extra data:
Richong Liu et al, Movement traits of directional ball-trapping methods in soccer: A comparative examine of superior and intermediate gamers, Worldwide Journal of Sports activities Science & Teaching (2025). DOI: 10.1177/17479541251350820
Offered by
College of Tsukuba
Quotation:
Elite soccer gamers grasp the artwork of trapping with out breaking their stride: Examine (2025, July 25)
retrieved 25 July 2025
from https://medicalxpress.com/information/2025-07-elite-soccer-players-master-art.html
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