First Touch

Directional Touch Cones: Scan and Cue

Take the first touch in a chosen direction

First Touch
Receiving
Dribbling

Directional Touch Cones: Scan and Cue is a 12-minute first touch drill for 3-16 players, suitable for Under 5 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.

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First Touch
Receiving
Dribbling
Technical Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Foundation Phase
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Scanning
Decision Making
Awareness

Duration

12 min

Players

3-16

Pitch size

12 x 12 yards

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Objectives

  • -Take the first touch in a chosen direction
  • -Move the ball out of the feet
  • -Link touch to the next pass

Setup

  1. 1Four coloured cones around a central working cone.
  2. 2Server ten yards away with a supply of balls.
  3. 3Working player at the central cone.

Coaching instructions

  1. 1Coach calls a colour as the ball travels.
  2. 2The receiver takes their first touch towards that cone then passes back.
  3. 3Ten reps then rotate.
  4. 4The coach shows a colour or number and the receiver must call it before their first touch.

Coaching points

  • -Angle the receiving surface towards the target
  • -Touch into space, not into the feet
  • -Head up as the ball travels
  • -Scan over the shoulder as the ball travels
  • -Head up early so the picture is taken pre-touch

Common mistakes

  • -Two touches when one is enough
  • -Late decision so the touch is heavy
  • -Body closed to one side

Where this drill fits

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