A good first touch can change everything.
It gives a soccer player more time, creates space away from pressure and prepares the ball for the next pass, dribble or shot. A heavy first touch does the opposite — it can allow a defender to close the space or turn a promising situation into lost possession.
The good news is that first touch and ball control can be improved with consistent, focused practice.
These five soccer first-touch drills are designed to help players develop better control with both feet, receive the ball in different situations and become more comfortable playing at match speed.
Whether you're training independently or adding extra practice alongside team sessions, focus on the quality and purpose of every touch.
What Makes a Good First Touch?
A first touch shouldn't simply stop the ball.
Whenever possible, it should prepare the player for what happens next.
That might mean taking the ball:
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Away from pressure
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Into open space
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Onto the stronger foot
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Across the body
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Forward into a dribble
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Into position for a pass or shot
Players should also develop the habit of looking around before the ball arrives.
Knowing where teammates, opponents and space are located helps a player decide where their first touch should go before receiving the pass.
Now let's put those principles into practice.
1. Wall Pass and Directional First Touch
A wall is one of the simplest and most useful training partners a soccer player can have.
Stand approximately 3–5 metres from a solid wall.
Pass the ball firmly against it. As it returns, use your first touch to move the ball slightly to your left or right before passing again.
Alternate between both feet.
Progress the drill by:
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Increasing the speed of the pass
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Receiving with the inside and outside of the foot
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Taking the first touch across your body
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Alternating left and right feet
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Moving further from the wall
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Passing again immediately after your first touch
Don't simply trap the ball directly underneath you.
Try to make your first touch set up your second action.
2. Receive, Turn and Accelerate
This drill teaches players to receive the ball and move into space rather than remaining stationary.
Place a cone behind you to represent a defender.
Pass against a wall or have a partner pass the ball toward you. Check your shoulder before receiving, then use your first touch to turn away from the imaginary defender.
Practice turning in both directions.
You can use:
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Inside-foot turns
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Outside-foot touches
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Across-the-body touches
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Cruyff turns when appropriate
Once you've turned, accelerate for several metres with the ball.
The acceleration is important because beating pressure isn't finished when you turn — you need to move away from the defender.
3. First Touch Through a Gate
Set up several small gates using pairs of cones.
Have a partner pass the ball toward you, or use a wall.
Before the ball arrives, choose a gate and use your first touch to direct the ball through it.
Then move onto the ball and make your next action.
This teaches something very important:
Your first touch should have a destination.
As the drill becomes easier, make the gates smaller or increase the speed of the incoming pass.
For an additional challenge, have a partner call out a gate just before the ball reaches you. This adds a reaction and decision-making element.
4. Weak-Foot Ball Control Challenge
Players often become predictable because they're much more comfortable receiving with one foot.
This drill specifically develops the weaker side.
For 5–10 minutes, perform simple passing and receiving exercises using predominantly your weaker foot.
Practice:
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Inside-foot control
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Outside-foot control
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Passing against a wall
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Receiving across the body
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Directional first touches
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Controlling and passing with two touches
Start slowly.
Accuracy and control are more important than speed in the beginning.
As confidence improves, gradually increase the pace.
Developing both feet gives players more options when pressure arrives from different directions.
5. Scan, Receive and Play
This is where first-touch training starts becoming much more game-realistic.
Before receiving a pass, look over your shoulder.
Then receive the ball and immediately perform the appropriate next action.
If you're working with a partner, they can hold up fingers or call a direction just before the ball arrives. You must identify the information before receiving.
If you're practising alone, place different coloured objects or numbered markers around the training area and deliberately scan for one before each reception.
The purpose isn't simply to improve your eyesight.
It's to develop the habit:
Scan → decide → receive → play.
In matches, the best first touch usually begins before the ball reaches the player.
How to Improve Your First Touch Faster
Repetition matters, but simply repeating the same easy movement isn't enough.
Players should gradually increase the difficulty of their training.
Start with controlled practice and then introduce:
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Faster passes
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Smaller spaces
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Different receiving angles
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Both feet
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Movement before receiving
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Decisions before the first touch
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Passive and eventually active pressure
The objective is to progress from technical control to game-realistic control.
A player who looks excellent against a wall but struggles when an opponent applies pressure hasn't completed the development process yet.
Use Different Surfaces of the Foot
Good ball control isn't limited to the inside of the foot.
Players should become comfortable receiving with different surfaces depending on the situation.
The inside of the foot provides a large surface and is useful for controlled receiving and passing.
The outside of the foot can help redirect the ball quickly and escape pressure.
The sole can be useful when controlling or manipulating the ball in tight spaces.
Players should also learn to cushion bouncing and aerial balls appropriately rather than allowing the ball to rebound away from them.
Developing these different techniques gives players more solutions during matches.
Don't Forget to Scan Before Receiving
This is one of the biggest differences between basic ball-control practice and effective soccer training.
Before the ball arrives, ask:
Where is the pressure?
Where is the space?
Where are my teammates?
What am I going to do next?
The answers determine where the first touch should go.
This is why first touch and soccer IQ are closely connected.
First Touch and Ball Control Under Pressure
Eventually, players need an opponent.
Ask a partner to apply light pressure as you receive the ball. Initially, the defender doesn't need to try to win it.
The receiver's objective is simply to protect the ball and use the first touch to move away from pressure.
As ability improves, gradually make the defender more active.
This progression helps bridge the gap between isolated technical training and the unpredictable situations players experience during matches.
How Often Should You Practise First Touch?
You don't need an exhausting hour-long workout every day.
Short, focused sessions performed consistently can be extremely useful.
Even 10–20 minutes of purposeful ball work can provide plenty of quality repetitions.
The important word is purposeful.
Rather than completing hundreds of identical touches, challenge yourself to use both feet, scan before receiving, change direction and gradually increase the difficulty.
First Touch vs Ball Mastery
These skills are related but aren't exactly the same.
Ball mastery develops comfort manipulating the ball through repeated touches and different movements.
First touch focuses specifically on what happens when a player receives the ball and prepares for the next action.
Young players benefit from developing both.
Ball mastery can improve confidence and coordination, while first-touch training teaches players to use that control effectively within the game.
Why First Touch Becomes More Important at Higher Levels
As the standard of soccer increases, players generally have less time and space.
Opponents close down faster.
Passes arrive with greater speed.
Decisions have to happen sooner.
A player who regularly needs several touches just to bring the ball under control can find the game becoming increasingly difficult.
That's why developing a purposeful first touch early can have such a big impact on future performance.
For a deeper explanation of the tactical importance of receiving the ball well, read our guide to why first touch is one of the most important skills in modern soccer.
Developing Better Ball Control With Coaching
Practising independently is valuable, but individual feedback can help players identify details they may not notice themselves.
At ProEdge Soccer, we work on first touch as part of the complete player-development process — combining technical execution with scanning, movement, decision-making and realistic pressure.
Players aren't simply taught how to control the ball.
They're taught where to control it, why they're taking that touch and what should happen next.
Players looking for more individual attention can explore our soccer training in San Jose to develop first touch, ball control, confidence and overall match performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Build a Better First Touch
A great first touch isn't about performing something spectacular.
It's about making the next action easier.
Learn to scan before receiving, use both feet, direct the ball into useful space and practise at increasingly realistic speeds.
Do that consistently and better ball control can give you something every soccer player wants:
more time, more options and more confidence when the ball arrives.
For players who want personalised feedback and structured development, explore ProEdge Soccer's soccer training programmes in San Jose and discover how focused coaching can help transfer technical skills into match performance.