When teams play at their best they will, frequently, play one-touch soccer as a significant part of their attack. One-touch soccer simply refers to the fact that the player receiving the ball rebounds it immediately with one touch to a team mate. It is a very advanced way of playing the game and requires;

1. Perfectly weighted passes from teammate to teammate.
2. Vision of the field so that the player knows what they are going to do with the ball before they receive it.
3. Early movement by supporting team mates to get into positions where the ball can be passed to them immediately.
4. Verbal communication from supporting teammates so that players preoccupied with receiving the ball know where support is.

Some of the great teams are able to play one-touch soccer for extended periods but most teams can only play it for a short period of time. One-touch soccer is not a goal in and of itself but the fact that players can move the ball around with one touch bewilders defenders who cannot move quickly enough to win the ball, tackle an attacker or organize effectively because the ball moves quicker than they can move or think.

The technical area has two exercises to help coaches develop one-touch play and can be used in a game.

The Bulletin Board features a report from last year’s Master Coach visit to Manchester United’s Academy. The writer, Giovanni Pacini, has summarized the qualities that Manchester United build into their Academy development and it is an interesting read.

Enjoy your coaching,

Jeff Tipping

Director of Coaching

NSCAA