Having a great first touch is arguably the most important technical skill in football. It allows you to keep possession, make accurate passes, take shots, and create opportunities to dribble past opponents. In this article, I’ll share my top 10 drills and exercises to help you refine your first touch and take your overall game to the next level.
As someone who has played and coached football for many years, I firmly believe that mastering your first touch is the key to unlocking your full potential on the pitch. When you can consistently control the ball with precision and confidence, everything else becomes easier – from passing and shooting to dribbling and turning.
In my experience, the players who stand out are the ones who have put in the time and effort to hone their first touch. They make it look effortless, but I know firsthand how many hours of deliberate practice it takes to develop that level of skill. It’s not glamorous work, but it pays off big time in matches.
So without further ado, let’s dive into my top 10 drills for improving your first touch:
Cone Grid Drill: Refine Close Ball Control
This drill is fantastic for working on your close control and ability to receive the ball in tight spaces. Set up a grid of cones about 1 yard apart, and practice moving the ball through the grid using different parts of your feet. Focus on keeping the ball close and under control at all times.
As you get more comfortable, challenge yourself to go faster while still maintaining control. You can also vary the grid pattern and add in turns, cuts, and changes of direction to simulate match situations.
Expert tip from renowned skills coach Tom Byer:
“In the cone grid drill, try to keep your head up and gaze straight ahead rather than down at the ball. This helps develop your peripheral vision and spatial awareness, which are crucial for performing in actual games.”
Wall Pass Exercises for Precise Touch
Practicing wall passes is an excellent way to improve the accuracy and weight of your first touch passes. Find a wall or a partner, and play one-touch passes back and forth from various distances and angles. Aim to control the ball with your first touch and play a crisp, accurate return pass.
As you improve, increase the tempo and vary the height and speed of the passes. You can also incorporate movement off the ball, practicing receiving and passing on the run.
Wall pass drills help you develop a feel for how to cushion and direct the ball with different parts of your foot, which is essential for maintaining possession and building attacks in matches.
One-Touch Passing Drills to Boost Decision-Making Speed
In today’s fast-paced game, the ability to make quick, accurate decisions on the ball is more important than ever. One-touch passing drills are fantastic for improving your decision-making speed and precision.
Set up a triangle or diamond shape with cones or markers, and practice playing crisp one-touch passes with a partner or two. Focus on the quality of your first touch, aiming to set yourself up for the next pass with each reception.
As you progress, increase the speed of play and add in more movement off the ball. You can also shrink the size of the playing area to ramp up the pressure and replicate match conditions.
| Drill Variation | Key Benefits |
|---|---|
| One-touch triangle passes | Improves speed of thought and execution |
| One-touch passes with overlaps | Develops combination play and off-ball movement |
| One-touch passes under pressure | Enhances composure and decision-making under pressure |
Dribbling Exercises to Enhance Touch Technique
While dribbling is a separate skill from first touch, the two are closely related. Having a good first touch often gives you the time and space to take on opponents with the dribble. Incorporating dribbling drills into your training can help you refine your overall ball control and touch technique.
One of my favorite dribbling exercises is the cone slalom. Set up a series of cones in a zigzag pattern, and practice dribbling through them at increasing speeds, using both feet and different parts of your foot. Focus on keeping the ball close and under control, with your head up and eyes scanning the area ahead.
Other great dribbling drills include the figure-8, the cone weave, and the Cruyff turn. The key is to practice these moves at game-realistic speeds and with sudden changes of direction, just like you would need to do in a match.
Consistent Practice: The Key to First Touch Mastery
Ultimately, the secret to developing an exceptional first touch is consistent, deliberate practice. It’s not enough to just go through the motions – you need to approach each training session with focus, intensity, and a desire to improve.
Set specific goals for each drill, whether it’s completing a certain number of reps, achieving a faster time, or hitting a target with your passes. Keep track of your progress and strive to get better each day.
Remember, mastering your first touch is a journey, not a destination. Even the best players in the world continue to work on this fundamental skill day in and day out. Embrace the process, and take pride in every small improvement along the way.
With dedication and the right training approach, you can develop the touch precision, confidence, and finesse to excel at any level of the game. So get out there, put in the work, and elevate your first touch mastery!
