In simple terms, the cushion trap is a ball control technique that asks the receiver of the ball to bring it under control by absorbing its impact. It means that the ball is significantly less likely to bounce away and end up in the possession of the opposition team, giving the receiver time to decide upon their next move. That could be to dribble forward with the ball, or it might involve making a pass or getting a shot off. Whatever it is that you decide is the right thing for you to do, you will be in a much better position to be able to achieve it if you have successfully executed the cushion trap and taken the sting out of the ball before deciding what to do.
The exact manner in which a player chooses to attempt the cushion trap will depend on numerous different circumstances, including where the opposition players are in relation to them and the angle from which the ball is approaching. You could, for example, choose to cushion it with your thigh, or you might decide that using the laces of your boot is the right approach. There is no ‘right’ answer to that, with the position that you find yourself in being the ultimate deciding factor. If you want to do it, though, the first thing that you will need to do is to anticipate where it is that the ball is likely to come down, shifting your body accordingly.
Next, bending your knees slightly will provide you with balance and some extra agility, whilst the crucial part of it is all about timing. That is because you need to be able to pull your body part away slightly, almost going with the ball as it lands. The downward or backward movement is what cushions the ball’s impact, removing its speed and momentum from the scenario. If you get it right, then you will execute the cushion trap perfectly, but if you get it wrong, then you could end up sending the ball off in entirely the wrong direction. That is why this is definitely a case of ‘practice makes perfect’ in terms of spending time training on the move.