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First Touch in Soccer
It’s hard to say what the most important skill there is to have as a soccer player, but it could very well be a good first touch.
Without a good first touch there is no way to play at a high level. Why? Well, a good first touch allows you to play the ball quickly, hold the ball, beat players on the dribble, and score goals. If you’re constantly controlling the ball too close to you, and you’re on top of the ball, then you’re bound to lose the ball and not get the pass, shot or cross off in time.
A good first touch is controlling the ball out in front of you, and not right under your feet so you have to take another touch before you make the pass. If you watch players in the English Premier League, Serie A, or La Liga, for example, they control the ball out into the space in front of them, so they can get their head up and make the next pass or take the next touch.
How to Improve Your First Touch
So how do you improve your first touch? There’s a very easy way to do this. Find a wall and kick the ball against it and control the ball out in front of you with the inside of your right foot and then your left. Do this a thousand times a week and you’ll improve your first touch. Do this for fifteen to tweenty minutes a day and you'll see improvements.
The key is to hit the ball hard though, to almost strike the ball as hard as you can against the wall so the ball is tough to control. And act like there’s a defender closing you down, so you have to be ready to protect the ball with your body. Imagine your playing in a game and control the ball like you're being closed down by the other team.
Next, get a friend to pass the ball into your feet as hard as they can. Have them almost take shots at you, but below the knees, and try to control the ball out in front of you a say three or four feet. This is still with the inside area of your foot, as this is the main part of your foot you use to control the ball.
Mastering the First Touch
After you master this, setup two sets of cones, a few feet apart, to the right and the left of you. Try to control the ball through those cones when your friend plays the ball into you. Essentially, you're trying to pass/control the ball through these cones as the ball comes to you.
As you progress further, have your friend hit the ball hard into your feet and then close you down to the right or left. If they are closing you down from the right side then your first touch is to the left, away from pressure.
First touch is all about being able to control any type of pass at any speed right out in front of you so you can make the next pass, take a shot, cross the ball, or dribble. It doesn't matter if the ball is blasted at you, your first touch is so good you're ready and can control the ball so you're prepared to make the next play.
Check out this other drills to improve your first touch:
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