Gloves Up
All knowledge

First Touch

Your first touch decides what you can do next. Get it right and you have time to pass. Get it wrong and the striker is on you.

First touch, then pass
  1. On your toes. Look over your shoulder.
  2. First touch across the body, out of your feet.
  3. Plant the standing foot beside the ball.
  4. Inside of the foot, ankle locked, follow through.
Out of your feet
Push the ball a step away, so you can pass with your next step. A ball stuck under you needs a second touch you do not have time for.
Away from pressure
If the striker is coming from your left, the touch goes right. Make them run further.
Back foot
Let the ball roll across your body and take it with the foot furthest from where it came from. Now you can see the whole pitch.
Soft foot
Cushion it. Relax your ankle as the ball arrives, like catching an egg.
Towards your pass
Touch the ball in the direction you want to pass, so the touch sets the pass up.

Common mistakes

Practise it with Open Up, Wall Work, Back-Pass Escape.