Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Excercises to promote the 1st touch

Extended/Across the body (10 mins)

Players in small groups of 4 or 5 with two cones forming a 2m gate. Player 1 passes the ball thru the gate and follows his pass, Player 2 is prepared to receive and takes their 1st touch past the cone to play on their second touch. Practice both the extended and across the body techniques with both feet.

Quality of the pass- Inside of the foot, non kicking foot pointed towards target, kicking foot stiking ball center or slightly above, ankle locked and toe pointed up, pace.

Receiving- Prepared to receive ( on your toes), body adjusted to take ball in direction you want to go, cushion rather than holding receiving foot against the ball.

Figure 8 Set up touch

Same set up as before using one ball. Player receiving uses one touch to set up the diagonal pass either cushioning it to face the direction they want to play with the same foot or bringing it across the body to play with the opposite foot.

- 1st touch, quality of pass.

Find the open player

Three players formed in a triangular shape two with balls, one player works constantly under pressure receiving taken the ball in the direction they want to go and finding the open player. Working player has to demand the ball, switch roles after 1 min.

- Proper inside of the foot passing technique

- Proper receiving technique

- Pace of the pass

- Demand high work rate