| First Touch Fine Tuning Technique |
By Tom Fleck
Arguably the single most important touch for a soccer player is the first one. This touch can be with any part of the body as a means of receiving or redirecting the ball. The word “arguably” was purposely used to counter those who may suggest that the last touch that results in a goal is the most important touch.
For as many years as memory serves me, the expression “trap it” was directly associated with the first touch. Players were told to trap the ball with the chest, the thigh, various parts of the foot and in some instances, for the more advanced or risk taking, the head. The instructional point of the exercise was always the same — stop the ball.
Semantics notwithstanding, the idea in today’s modern, more dynamic game is not to stop the ball but rather to receive it and maintain control while keeping it in motion. Stopping the ball means the player must start it again, all of which takes time. This time spent stopping and starting, though inconsequential on the clock, is most inefficient on the part of the individual receiving the ball. Further, the timing of the teammate runs and/or defender movements is directly related to the technical speed of the player receiving the ball.
In some instances this simple technical action can mean the difference between finding a penetrating channel or being forced to play back or square and reload the attack. Generally, penetrating spaces open briefly and must be exploited with technical efficiency, hence the need for a clean, productive first touch — not stop and go.
Following are exercises to train the first touch:
In the diagram at right, A dribbles forward and B runs off A to receive a pass. B must one-touch a pass through the cones to a space in front of C, who is timing a run for a shot on goal. Repeat, changing player positions.
Proper first touches can also be used by players to get out of tight or bad spaces on the field. A well-timed, paced and directed first touch can spring an alert player between or around defenders and free him or her to receive a return pass on his way out of the back.
In addition to the receiving first touch being used as a control technique, it can also be used as the touch that prepares the ball for the following pass or dribble. Receiving a ground ball by playing it first touch in a 45-degree angle gives the player the opportunity to play the next touch immediately without further preparation. If there is need for a ground pass, then the receiving touch should be short and kept close to the body for a quick release.
In the diagram at right, A passes a ground ball to B. B plays the ball on a 45-degree angle with the first touch, then plays the ball back with the second touch. Play is continual.
When the player wishes to send a long or lofted ball, the receiving touch must be played away from the body (still at 45 degrees) so the entire leg can be used for both power and leverage when striking the ball.
In the diagram at right, A plays a ground ball to B. C makes a run off A to the flank. B’s first touch upon receiving the ball must be far enough away from his or her body so he or she can serve C an air ball. The distance of the ball from the body allows for the leverage needed for the airborne serve.
In this diagram at right,
A throws air ball to B, who must redirect the serves with one touch of the head, thigh, chest or foot to C, who is moving back and forth behind A. This requires B to play with the head so that he or she can sight the direction that C is moving. This activity can be done with all three players moving; i.e., A and B forward and back with C continuing to change direction behind the server.
Once players have achieved relative success at the fundamental level, then appropriate pressures of time, space and opponents must be applied to move the training to game
situations. After all, that is why we train, isn’t it?
Editor’s note:
Tom Fleck is a former NSCAA president (1984/1985) and 2004 recipient of the Honor Award. This article originally appeared in the July-August 2002 issue of Soccer Journal.
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