Improve First Touch in Soccer
, by Adam Zawati, 3 min reading time
A great first touch in soccer is the foundation for all other skills, including dribbling, shooting, and passing. Without it, players can't fully showcase their abilities. Mastering the first touch and learning to adapt it to various situations is critical for becoming a complete player. These three simple drills will help young players sharpen their first touch, opening up new opportunities on the field.
How to Improve First Touch in Soccer: 3 Simple Drills for Young Players
A great first touch sets up everything in soccer. It helps players control the ball quickly and opens up opportunities to pass, shoot, or dribble. Here are three quick and effective drills to improve your first touch.
1. Wall Pass and Control
This is one of the simplest and most effective drills to sharpen your first touch.
- How to do it: Stand about 5-7 meters from a wall. Pass the ball against the wall with one foot, and control it with the inside of the opposite foot. Alternate feet with each pass. Try to take only one touch to control and one to pass.
- Focus: Keep your body balanced and soft on the ball. Don’t let the ball bounce too far off your foot.
Pro Tip: Challenge yourself by increasing the pace or distance. You can even add a second player to work on controlling the ball while under pressure.
2. Juggling with a Purpose
Juggling isn’t just about showing off—it’s a great way to develop a sensitive first touch.
- How to do it: Start juggling, but every third touch should come from a different part of your body—feet, thighs, and chest. This simulates receiving the ball in different game situations.
- Focus: Control the ball lightly and try to keep it close. The goal isn’t to kick it high but to cushion it softly.
Pro Tip: Once you're comfortable, move around while juggling to simulate adjusting to an unpredictable pass.
3. Receive and Turn Drill
Controlling the ball while turning is a key game skill. This drill helps players adjust their body position and touch in tight spaces.
- How to do it: Set up two cones about 5 meters apart. Have a teammate or coach pass the ball to you. As you receive, take your first touch in the direction of the opposite cone, and then turn and pass the ball back. Repeat, alternating feet.
- Focus: Your first touch should always guide you into space, away from the defender (the cone).
Pro Tip: Practice using the inside and outside of both feet, as well as receiving with your back foot to get comfortable in all situations.
Final Comments
A strong first touch is essential because without it, you won’t be able to fully showcase your other skills like dribbling, shooting, or passing. No matter how great your technique is in those areas, if you can’t control the ball first, you won’t have the chance to use them. A player is never truly complete without mastering the first touch. Expanding this ability and learning to adapt your first touch to different game situations is critical for becoming a more well-rounded and effective player. Keep working on this skill, and everything else will fall into place.
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