Simple Soccer Activities to Develop the First Touch
Do you struggle with your first touch in soccer and want to improve your ball control? Our expertly curated soccer activities can help you develop a strong first touch and take your game to the next level. Discover the best training drills to hone your skills and dominate the field in our comprehensive guide.
Soccer is a fast-paced game that requires critical thinking in a short period. You have to advance with the ball quickly and pass it so that you can outrace your opponent.
Sometimes you might have to pass the ball in just one touch as there are numerous situations involved in soccer that require this strategy.
The first touch is a critical skill that you must have if you want to ace the game. A well-developed first touch shows that a person is a professional player.
Developing the first touch is not easy as it seems but with some soccer activities, you can flourish your first touch.
Simple soccer activities to develop the first touch
Below-specified are some of the best simple soccer activities to develop the first touch. Before doing these drills, make sure to use four cones to create a small square.
Soccer exercises: Receive the ball with the inner part of your foot
One of the best soccer exercises or activities that you can do to improve your first touch is to receive the soccer ball with the inner part of your foot. What this drill does is that it helps you to be familiar with the power behind a pass.
Most players are unable to comprehend the power of a pass. It is why they lack the skill of the first touch. Moreover, while doing this, make sure that your body is straight, your hips are open, and you are always on your toes.
You can grab a partner for this exercise, or if you do not have one, you can always practice a wall pass. Both of them are great for this drill and have the same effects.
Another crucial point that you must remember while doing this drill is to keep the soccer ball moving. What I mean by that is do not stop the ball in a way that it completely stops as doing this is not effective and does the opposite of improving your overall first touch.
Furthermore, many youth soccer training clubs teach this drill to youths to develop their first touch.
Soccer exercises: Receive the ball with the outer part of your foot
This drill is also popular and beneficial for you if you want to develop professional first touch skills. This drill is just like receiving and playing the soccer ball with the inner part of your foot.
Although receiving the ball with the inside of your foot is more convenient and recommended, you must also practice this drill. It is because there are times when a defender might come from either your left or right side.
In that case, you cannot stop the ball with your inner part as most probably the ball will roll a bit forward, which would grant your opponent the opportunity to steal the ball away from you.
While doing this drill, make sure to be on your toes at all times, and roll the soccer ball to the opposite side from where your opponent’s team member is coming.
For example, if the defender is coming from your right side, use your left foot to receive the ball.
Furthermore, another point to remember while doing this drill is that you must receive the ball using one foot and pass with another. For example, trap the soccer ball with your right foot and pass it with your left, and vice versa.
Soccer exercises: Inside trap and play
Inside Trap and Play is a drill that can seriously boost your first touch skills. The crucial point to remember here is that you need to trap the ball outside the cones, bring it inside in just one touch and then pass the ball.
All this has to be done using the inside of your foot. Hence, the name Inside Trap and Play. Make sure to use both feet when practicing this drill. If you are receiving the ball with your left foot, then pass using your right foot.
This drill is designed to help you develop agility in your first touch, and not following the recommended steps can slow down your progress. Also, make sure that your head is always up as it allows you to focus more.
Using this soccer exercise in youth soccer training programs can enhance the passing skills of youth soccer players.
Soccer exercises: Outside trap and play
This drill is the opposite of inside trap and play. In this drill, you need to use the outer part of your foot to trap the ball. For this drill, step outside the placed cones.
The reason for this is that you need to trap the ball outside of the cones and bring it back into the coned-square to pass it. While passing, use the inner part of your foot instead of the outer part.
Like all other drills, make sure to be on your toes and keep your legs moving so you can perform the activity more conveniently and efficiently.
Soccer exercises: Inside trap and outside play
Doing this drill considerably improves your first touch passing speed. This drill involves trapping the ball using the inside of your foot and passing it with the outer part. Trap the ball outside of cones and bring it inside the box made of cones to pass it.
Moreover, you should only use one foot for trapping and passing the ball involved in this drill. Make sure to focus on the ball, especially when receiving it.
Soccer exercises: Trap, roll, and play
This soccer activity involves trapping the ball outside of cones with either of your feet, rolling it inside the cones using the inner part of your toes, and passing it again using the inside part of your foot.
All these drills help you to increase your first touch, which helps you to keep the passing within your team going on and improve your chances of winning. By doing these drills to improve your first touch, you can also learn how you can dribble out of danger.
Moreover, this drill is an ideal youth soccer training drill as it teaches the fundamentals of controlling the ball.
Conclusion
The above-specified are some simple soccer training exercises, and youth soccer training drills develop the first touch. Make sure to send your kids to one of the best youth soccer training programs if they are soccer fanatics.
