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First Touch

Soccer (Individual Skills) / Popular

Receive and direct the ball cleanly with various surfaces.

What coaches agree on

  • Receive on the balls of your feet with knees softly bent, not flat-footed, so your body is ready to move the moment the ball arrives.
  • Scan for space and the defender before the ball reaches you, so you already know what you'll do with your first touch instead of deciding after it arrives.
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  • Cushion the ball by softening your foot, thigh, or chest and withdrawing it slightly on contact, taking the pace off the pass instead of meeting it stiffly.

Common mistakes

  • A mistimed or off-centre touch — too high, too low, or off the wrong part of the foot — pops the ball up, traps it underfoot, or sends it off at the wrong angle instead of settling it dead.
The SECRET to a good first touch
Intermediate

The SECRET to a good first touch

Coach's take: Excellent - explains a subtle habit good players do on instinct, and breaks down exactly why it works.

3.8