Directional First Touch Gates

Objective

• -Take the first touch into space, not under the feet
• -Use inside, outside and sole controls
• -Receive from all angles and heights

Setup

1. 1Circle of servers around a 20 yard area.
2. 2Working players inside with no ball.
3. 3Four exit gates marked on the circle edge.

How to play

1. 1Server passes in, worker controls into a chosen gate and returns the ball.
2. 2Coach calls the surface: inside, outside or sole.
3. 3Sixty seconds per worker then swap.

Progressions

• +Servers throw for aerial controls
• +Add a chaser behind the worker

Regressions

• -Slower ground passes
• -Widen the gates

Variations

• -Count clean touches as a team score
• -Finish with a pass to a moving target

Common mistakes

• -Touch too heavy through the gate
• -Standing flat and waiting
• -Same foot every time