Whether you’re talking soccer or poultry, thighs are a useful body part. 

 The path and height of the ball is key to determining whether to receive with your thigh. A dropping ball coming in below chest height is a good candidate. 

Here’s what you need to do: Before the ball arrives, plant one leg with the knee slightly bent, while lifting and bending the receiving leg, like a table.

As the ball comes in, drop your thigh to a 45-degree angle and gently pull back to cushion the ball, and then you’re off to dribble or pass to a teammate.