Pele - The Master And His Method - Trapping And Heading (1973)

[Music] spe [Music] think about this for a moment in a soccer game there are 22 players but only one ball your share of that ball will add up to only a few minutes in each game that's all so when a ball does come to you make the most of it don't let it get away control it quickly and completely however it comes to you fast slow high low you must be able to stop it and not let it bounce away from [Music] you the secret of trapping is to treat the ball gently cushion it relax the part of the body used so that it gives slightly as it meets the [Music] ball the most frequently used trap is made with the inside of the foot the foot is turned out and raised about two Ines off the ground to meet the center of the [Applause] ball and trapping like kicking must be done equally well with either foot [Applause] it's not necessary to stop the ball dead redirecting it but still keeping it close to you turning with the ball saves time and can deceive [Applause] opponents the outside of the foot can be used for trapping two leaning the leg lightly over the ball helps control it or the solar of the foot for a ball coming straight towards [Applause] you A dropping ball can be controlled by using the InStep if the ball is correctly cushioned it looks like a catch made with a [Music] foot even when you're moving trapping is a gentle art the ball must be taken in stride and pushed ahead of you but not too hard again it can be done with the inside of the foot or the outside trapping is not just for the feet the whole body must be ready to control the ball a dropping ball for inance can be trapped with a thigh drawing the leg away as the ball [Music] [Applause] hits for a higher ball the chest is used leaning back relaxing as the ball strikes making it bounce gently up and then to the ground where you can control it for your next [Music] move using the chest to trap On The Run May mean leaning back to receive the ball or it may mean leaning forward over the [Music] ball the shoulder can be used too turning the body slightly away to cushion the ball a ball at head height does not have to be headed away if there are no opponents to challenge you for it it can be controlled with a head [Music] trap drawing the head back as the ball makes contact this gives a moment's control allowing you to pass the ball more accurately with your head or to drop it to your [Music] feet when the ball takes odd bounces you have to use whatever part of your body you can to trap it be ready to use your shins especially on bumpy grounds or your stomach or whatever you can get in the way be ready for [Applause] anything but master the basics first [Music] hitting the ball with a head is something special to soccer in all other sports baseball basketball golf or tennis handball or football if the ball comes at your head you use your hands or a racket or you duck only in soccer is the head used as a weapon to strike the ball Brazil against Italy the 1970 World Cup final rivalino to p a leap [Applause] [Music] learning to head like this starts with learning not to be afraid of the ball not to panic when it comes flying into your [Music] face it won't hurt if you follow pelle's advice hit with the forehead eyes open mouth closed forehead eyes open mouth closed as a confidence Builder throw the ball onto your forehead start softly then harder and harder neck musle stiff as you get the hang of it start thrusting your head forward to meet the ball a few seconds and you'll see that it's all quite painless so it doesn't hurt you're ready to head the moving ball gently at first a pair of you bouncing the ball back and forth body relaxed knees bent twisting and moving to keep underneath the ball don't head the ball hard you're not trying to beat the other player just see how long the two of you can keep that ball up there swinging the body from the waist is what puts power into headers a sharp almost vicious swing the body becomes a catapult pulled backwards then suddenly released and Away goes the ball with the speed of a bullet hate the ball hit it with all you've got punch it hard with your forehead if you want to score goals and who doesn't get on top of the ball and head it down [Applause] [Music] in soccer everything moves the players are in motion all the time the ball never stops rolling and flying and bouncing all over the field here they meet a moving player a flying ball heading on the run and that means running backwards as well as running forwards [Music] and it means running or shuffling sideways too all the time hitting the ball with the center of the forehead balance only if you're lightly perched on your toes can you stretch for the ball without [Music] stumbling when the ball is above your head takeoff go up to meet it there's the swing of the body in midair a jack knife spring forward as the head smacks into the [Music] ball body coil then a Twist from the waist and away to the side flies the ball turned with the side of the forehead and a big twisting sideways swing of the body [Music] [Applause] effortless or is it this way it doesn't look so easy because it isn't easy at all there are a lot of things to coordinate the swing of the Body Balance neck movement as the ball is hit the direction of the header the mark of the master is to time them allly like we said it's more difficult than it looks may we see that again [Music] please turning the ball is a must for attacking players nodding it sideways to a teammate or running to a ball coming in from the wing and flicking it past the goalie the diving header spectacular and acrobatic if the ball is coming in low not quite near enough to get a foot to it the soccer player becomes a human torpedo flinging himself full length at the ball Lee of England saved by Brazil's [Applause] Felix there are unfortunately always those opponents around to make life difficult they want the ball just as much as you do and when you go up to head it chances are there'll be an opponent or two or even three right up there with you the result a Air Battle for the ball but it's not always the tallest man who wins Pelle is not tall but he is tough to beat in the air partly this is strength a strong leap from powerful legs but partly it is timing the secret is to jump early ideally a fraction of a second before your opponent [Applause] [Applause] dangling 8 ft up three practice balls targets for the Santos players at a training [Music] session and even when it comes to jumping a soccer player must learn to be two-footed first the left then the right [Music] then both [Music] together well it doesn't exactly look like Forest Hills but the game is tennis believe it or not heading tennis you just use the center circle of the field don't bother with a net the halfway line will do for that four or five or six or is it more to a side keep the ball in the air after one bounce and head it back over the [Music] line plenty of shouting plenty of laughing plenty of criticism but plenty of heading practice too la la la la la la la