Soccer chesting the ball guide

Chesting the ball

Cushion Control
When a team-mate uses a lofted pass and the ball is soaring through the air, as it dips and starts coming to ground, you may not necessarily be able to control it with your feet, as the ball is too high. When this happens, it is best to use your Chest to bring the ball down. Chesting is a good technique to cushion the ball and bring it down to your feet.

The idea of cushioning the ball is to make the ball drop to your feet straight away so you can gaurd it against defenders. This is ued mostly when in tight situations with defenders closing you down. Chesting the ball too firmly can result in the ball flying a few yards in front of you. This makes it easier for defenders to tackle you.

Practice relazing the muscles and withdrawing the foot (or chest or thigh) at the point of contact so as to take the pace off the ball.

Firm Control
Sometimes, when you chest the ball, you want the first touch to guide the ball in a certain direction. Rather then try to cushion the ball to kill off the pace, use your chest to change the direction. This can be done by swinging your shoulders left or right on contact depending on whcih way you want to go.

Make solid contact with the ball so it bounces off your chest.

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