First Touch Away from Pressure
A player receives while a defender closes in from one side and must take the first touch away from the pressure, through the gate on the free side.
- Age
- U9–U16
- Players
- 4–12
- Duration
- 12 min
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Area
- 20 × 10 m
- Type
- Technical
- Approach
- Intermediate
- Format
- Waves
- Objectives
- Technical: Receiving / first touch
- Tactical: Decision making
- Concepts worked on
- Technical:Directional first touchRunning with the ball
- Tactical:Scanning
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Defender
- Pass
- Run without ball
- Dribble
- Ball
- Cone
In games, the first touch decides whether a player keeps the ball. This exercise adds a defender who arrives from one side at the moment the ball is played, so the receiver has to check over their shoulder, see where the pressure comes from and take the ball into the free space with the first touch. The two target gates make the correct decision obvious.
Objective
Scan before receiving and use the first touch to move the ball away from the defender and into space.
Organisation
- 20 × 10 m channel. A server at one end, the receiver in the middle.
- Two gates (2.5 m wide) at the far end, one on each side.
- A defender starts from one of the long sides; they choose which side before each repetition.
How it works
- The receiver moves away and then checks back towards the server.
- The server passes to the receiver; at the same moment the defender runs in.
- The receiver takes the first touch away from the defender and dribbles through the gate on the free side.
- The defender plays at 50% for the first rounds, then tries to win the ball.
- Rotate: server → receiver → defender → server. 6 repetitions each.
Coaching points
- Check over your shoulder before the ball is passed and again while it travels.
- Open your body sideways so you can take the ball in either direction.
- Use the foot furthest from the defender and push the ball out of your feet.
- Protect the ball with your body between it and the defender.
- Accelerate after the first touch.
Progressions
- The defender can start from either side, or even from behind.
- After the gate, pass into a mini goal or to a target player.
- The defender becomes fully active.
Regressions
- The coach shouts 'left' or 'right' instead of using a defender.
- The defender starts 2 m further away.
Variations
- Aerial version: the server throws the ball in and the receiver controls with thigh or chest.
Key principles
- Scan before receiving.
- Directional first touch.
- Protect the ball.
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