Grade 6 Physical And Health Education Soccer – Trapping Using The Sole Notes
Physical & Health Education — Soccer
Subtopic: Trapping Using the Sole (age 11, Kenya)
- Know what "trapping using the sole" means.
- Perform a simple sole trap to stop a pass or dribble.
- Use safe practice methods on school ground or field.
Trap, sole, control, cushion, first touch, pass.
Trapping with the sole means using the bottom of your foot to stop and control the ball. It is useful when the ball is on the ground and you want to keep it close, change direction, or prepare for the next pass or a dribble. Many Kenyan school players and big teams like the national team (Harambee Stars) use good first touch to keep possession.
- Football (size 3 or 4 for age 11) or a ball available at school.
- Comfortable trainers or studs if on grass. No studs on hard tarmac.
- Clear area on the school field, playground, or pitch — cones or stones to mark space.
The ball (left) meets the sole. The foot gives a small backward movement to cushion and stop the ball.
- Watch the ball and move so your body faces the direction you want to go.
- Stand on your supporting foot (the one not trapping) with knees slightly bent.
- Turn the foot you will use so the sole faces the incoming ball (foot slightly lifted and toes pointing down).
- Make contact with the middle of your sole. Gently pull your foot back (a small scoop) when the ball touches your sole — this cushions the ball and stops it.
- Keep the ball close to your body and ready for the next action (dribble, pass, or shoot).
Coach cue words: "Sole down — soft pull — keep close."
- Stationary pass — Partner stands 5–8 metres away and passes the ball along the ground. Trap using sole and return pass.
- Wall pass — Kick ball to a wall and trap the return with your sole. Start close and move back as you improve.
- Moving trap — Jog slowly and have a partner pass the ball. Trap with the sole while jogging to keep balance.
- Stop & turn — Trap with sole, then turn 90° to dribble away (good for matches at school).
Practice session idea (30 minutes): 5 min warm-up, 15 min trapping drills, 5 min small game, 5 min cool down.
- Foot too stiff — relax the ankle and give a small backward scoop.
- Looking away — keep eyes on the ball until it is stopped.
- Standing too upright — bend knees for balance and control.
- Using toes instead of sole — rotate foot so sole meets the ball, not the toe.
- Warm up before practice (jog, leg swings, gentle stretches).
- Use trainers on the tarmac and studs on grass only. If no shoes, practice slowly and carefully on soft grass.
- Practice on a flat part of the school field to avoid twisted ankles.
- Use simple equipment: cones can be empty plastic bottles or small stones if cones are not available.
Give 5 passes to each pupil. Score each trap:
- 3 points — ball stopped close, ready to pass or dribble.
- 2 points — ball stopped but a step away to reach it.
- 1 point — ball rolls away or uncontrolled.
Goal: most pupils should score 2 or 3 by the end of a few lessons.
- Demonstrate slowly step-by-step, then let pupils try in pairs.
- Give short feedback: "sole down," "soft pull," "eyes on ball."
- Use small-sided games at the end of class so pupils can use the new skill in play.