Drysdale Supercoach Session 1: Improving your first touch

4 Jun 2019 by Marty Bluml

First Touch in Soccer:

Let’s learn more about how to improve and perfect your first touch for soccer. A good first touch allows you to play the ball quickly, shield the ball, beat players on the dribble, and score goals. If you are constantly controlling the ball too close to you, or too far away from you, then you’re more likely to lose the ball and not get the pass, shot or cross off in time as defenders close you down.

If you watch players in the A League, 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. They don’t kill the ball right under them with their head down. If they did, defenders would pounce on them and win the ball.

How to 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 often and you’ll improve your first touch. It’s all about getting comfortable with the ball through repetition. The idea is to keep kicking the ball harder as your touch improves. Then, in a real game passes that come to you will be easier to control.

There are two other elements that are crucial to having a good first touch. First, it’s being ready to receive the ball – being on our toes and anticipating the pass. And second, it’s controlling and cushioning the ball.

Try these YouTube videos out:

https://youtu.be/YWIByxwNX_E
https://youtu.be/vp2L0Y0eXHM
https://youtu.be/JbOwpq_8CeM

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