Drill category
Football first touch drills
First-touch drills reward players for controlling the ball into space rather than under their feet. Keep the areas tight so touches matter.
What to coach
- One touch to set, one to play
- Touch away from the defender
- Use both feet
All 130 football first touch drills
Every drill below has its own page with the full set-up, step-by-step instructions, coaching points and progressions.
- Passing Diamond — passing drill, 15 min, Under 5 to Adults
- First Touch & Turn — first touch drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Aerial Control Practice — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Receiving Under Pressure — receiving drill, 15 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Ball Mastery Toolbox — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Turn & Strike — shooting drill, 18 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Rebound Board First Touch — first touch drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- 1-to-1 Ball Mastery Clinic — ball mastery drill, 15 min, Under 5 to Adults
- 1-to-1 Finishing Session — finishing drill, 15 min, Under 8 to Adults
- 1-to-1 Passing & Receiving Wall Work — passing drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Passing Gates Under Pressure — passing drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Half Turn & Scan Receiving — receiving drill, 15 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Directional First Touch Gates — first touch drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Shielding & Turning Under Pressure — dribbling drill, 15 min, Under 8 to Adults
- 500 Touches Mastery Circuit — ball mastery drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Volleys & Half Volleys — shooting drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
- 5v2 Rondo Ladder — possession drill, 12 min, Under 8 to Adults
- 1-to-1 First Touch Wall Work — first touch drill, 15 min, Under 7 to Adults
- Ball Mastery Maze — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Mastery Box Circuit — ball mastery drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Juggling Ladder — ball mastery drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Diamond Rotation Passing — passing drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Long And Short Switching — passing drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Check And Receive Circuit — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Aerial Control Station — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 8 to Adults
- Receiving Under Pressure Square — receiving drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Directional Touch Cones — first touch drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Two Ball Touch Station — first touch drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Touch, Turn And Play — first touch drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Shooting Arc Rotation — shooting drill, 15 min, Under 8 to Adults
- Volley And Half-Volley Station — shooting drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Back Pass Support Work — goalkeeping drill, 15 min, Under 10 to Adults
- Receiving Clock — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Ball Mastery Figure Eight — ball mastery drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Overload Sole Roll Grid — ball mastery drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Underload Sole Roll Grid — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Two-Touch Sole Roll Grid — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Tempo Sole Roll Grid — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Transition Sole Roll Grid — ball mastery drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Pressure Sole Roll Grid — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Continuous Sole Roll Grid — ball mastery drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Rotation Sole Roll Grid — ball mastery drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Combination Sole Roll Grid — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Wide Channel Sole Roll Grid — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Counter Sole Roll Grid — ball mastery drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Finishing Sole Roll Grid — ball mastery drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Overload Clock Face Touches — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Underload Clock Face Touches — ball mastery drill, 10 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Two-Touch Clock Face Touches — ball mastery drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Tempo Clock Face Touches — ball mastery drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Transition Clock Face Touches — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Pressure Clock Face Touches — ball mastery drill, 10 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Continuous Clock Face Touches — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Rotation Clock Face Touches — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Combination Clock Face Touches — ball mastery drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Wide Channel Clock Face Touches — ball mastery drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Counter Clock Face Touches — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Finishing Clock Face Touches — ball mastery drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Overload Passing Gate Channel — passing drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Underload Passing Gate Channel — passing drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Two-Touch Passing Gate Channel — passing drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Tempo Passing Gate Channel — passing drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Transition Passing Gate Channel — passing drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Pressure Passing Gate Channel — passing drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Continuous Passing Gate Channel — passing drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Rotation Passing Gate Channel — passing drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Combination Passing Gate Channel — passing drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Wide Channel Passing Gate Channel — passing drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Counter Passing Gate Channel — passing drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Finishing Passing Gate Channel — passing drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Overload Half-Turn Box — receiving drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Underload Half-Turn Box — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Two-Touch Half-Turn Box — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Tempo Half-Turn Box — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Transition Half-Turn Box — receiving drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Pressure Half-Turn Box — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Continuous Half-Turn Box — receiving drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Rotation Half-Turn Box — receiving drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Combination Half-Turn Box — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Wide Channel Half-Turn Box — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Counter Half-Turn Box — receiving drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Finishing Half-Turn Box — receiving drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Overload Back-to-Goal Receiving — receiving drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Underload Back-to-Goal Receiving — receiving drill, 16 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Two-Touch Back-to-Goal Receiving — receiving drill, 16 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Tempo Back-to-Goal Receiving — receiving drill, 16 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Transition Back-to-Goal Receiving — receiving drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Pressure Back-to-Goal Receiving — receiving drill, 16 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Continuous Back-to-Goal Receiving — receiving drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Rotation Back-to-Goal Receiving — receiving drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Combination Back-to-Goal Receiving — receiving drill, 16 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Wide Channel Back-to-Goal Receiving — receiving drill, 16 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Counter Back-to-Goal Receiving — receiving drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Finishing Back-to-Goal Receiving — receiving drill, 18 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Overload Pressure Ring Receiving — receiving drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Underload Pressure Ring Receiving — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Two-Touch Pressure Ring Receiving — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Tempo Pressure Ring Receiving — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Transition Pressure Ring Receiving — receiving drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Pressure Pressure Ring Receiving — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Continuous Pressure Ring Receiving — receiving drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Rotation Pressure Ring Receiving — receiving drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Combination Pressure Ring Receiving — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Wide Channel Pressure Ring Receiving — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Counter Pressure Ring Receiving — receiving drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Finishing Pressure Ring Receiving — receiving drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Overload Rebound Wall Touch — first touch drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Underload Rebound Wall Touch — first touch drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Two-Touch Rebound Wall Touch — first touch drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Tempo Rebound Wall Touch — first touch drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Transition Rebound Wall Touch — first touch drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Pressure Rebound Wall Touch — first touch drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Continuous Rebound Wall Touch — first touch drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Rotation Rebound Wall Touch — first touch drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Combination Rebound Wall Touch — first touch drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Wide Channel Rebound Wall Touch — first touch drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Counter Rebound Wall Touch — first touch drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Finishing Rebound Wall Touch — first touch drill, 14 min, Under 5 to Adults
- Overload Aerial Control Zone — first touch drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Underload Aerial Control Zone — first touch drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Two-Touch Aerial Control Zone — first touch drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Tempo Aerial Control Zone — first touch drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Transition Aerial Control Zone — first touch drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Pressure Aerial Control Zone — first touch drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Continuous Aerial Control Zone — first touch drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Rotation Aerial Control Zone — first touch drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Combination Aerial Control Zone — first touch drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Wide Channel Aerial Control Zone — first touch drill, 12 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Counter Aerial Control Zone — first touch drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
- Finishing Aerial Control Zone — first touch drill, 14 min, Under 9 to Adults
Drills by age group
First Touch drill questions coaches ask
How many football first touch drills are there on Football Coach Hub?
There are 130 football first touch drills in the library, each with a setup, coaching points, common mistakes, a progression and a regression so you can run it with mixed abilities.
What equipment do I need for first touch drills?
Most drills need only a ball per player, cones and bibs. You can filter the drill library by the kit you actually have, including mini goals, full goals, poles, ladders and rebound boards.
How long should a first touch practice last?
Ten to fifteen minutes on one technical practice is usually enough before players need a change of picture. Follow it with the same theme inside a small-sided game.
Coaching a first touch that solves the next problem
A good first touch is a decision made before the ball arrives. Set every practice up so players have to scan, then take the ball into space rather than stopping it dead in front of a defender.
Serve the ball properly. Weak, bouncing serves teach players to control mistakes instead of controlling passes, so use firm passes along the ground from a fixed distance.
- Open the body before receiving — see two options.
- Touch out of the feet, into the direction you want to travel.
- Receive on the back foot when playing forward.
- Add a defender within touching distance to make the touch matter.
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