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

Filter the first touch drills Football session plans

All 193 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
Four Gate Rally — warm ups drill, 12 min, Under 7 to Adults
Bounce and Turn — warm ups drill, 10 min, Under 6 to Under 16
Touch and Go — warm ups drill, 12 min, Under 7 to Adults
Box And Turn — ball mastery drill, 14 min, Under 6 to Under 14
Triangle Keep Ball — passing drill, 12 min, Under 6 to Adults
Bounce and Spread — passing drill, 12 min, Under 7 to Adults
Keep Ball Gates — possession drill, 12 min, Under 6 to Adults
Channel Combine — possession drill, 12 min, Under 7 to Adults
Corner Gate Possession — possession drill, 10 min, Under 6 to Adults
Mini Triangle Game — possession drill, 9 min, Under 5 to Adults
Diamond Dribble — dribbling drill, 10 min, Under 6 to Adults
Split Step Touch — first touch drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
Bounce And Go — first touch drill, 14 min, Under 6 to Adults
Corner Box Control — first touch drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Under 16
Gate And Switch — first touch drill, 15 min, Under 7 to Adults
Pocket Turn Game — first touch drill, 18 min, Under 7 to Adults
Triangle Check And Receive — first touch drill, 12 min, Under 6 to Adults
Channel Cushion — first touch drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
Shadow Receive — first touch drill, 8 min, Under 5 to Adults
Wall And Weave — first touch drill, 12 min, Under 6 to Adults
Switch Box Game — first touch drill, 16 min, Under 7 to Adults
Two-Gate Receive — first touch drill, 9 min, Under 5 to Under 14
Third Man Link — first touch drill, 15 min, Under 8 to Adults
End Zone Control — first touch drill, 18 min, Under 7 to Adults
Turn And Find — first touch drill, 12 min, Under 6 to Adults
Bounce Back Finish — first touch drill, 14 min, Under 8 to Adults
Find The Gap — first touch drill, 8 min, Under 5 to Under 16
Bounce And Protect — first touch drill, 15 min, Under 7 to Adults
Overlap Control — first touch drill, 13 min, Under 7 to Adults
Four Corner Flow — first touch drill, 16 min, Under 6 to Adults
Rondo Relay — first touch drill, 12 min, Under 8 to Adults
Backspin Control — first touch drill, 10 min, Under 6 to Adults
Pressure Escape — first touch drill, 15 min, Under 7 to Adults
Gate Turn Receive — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 5 to Adults
Half Turn Lane — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 7 to Adults
Triangle Traffic — receiving drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
Spin Away Receive — receiving drill, 15 min, Under 8 to Adults
Shadow To Live — receiving drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
Runner's Cushion — receiving drill, 10 min, Under 6 to Adults
Moving Target — receiving drill, 12 min, Under 6 to Adults
Rondo Open Touch — receiving drill, 14 min, Under 7 to Adults
Box Finish — shooting drill, 12 min, Under 7 to Under 14
Edge Strikers — shooting drill, 15 min, Under 9 to Under 15
Spin Finish — shooting drill, 12 min, Under 8 to Under 15
Angle Finish Lane — shooting drill, 10 min, Under 6 to Under 12
Quick Turn Finish — shooting drill, 12 min, Under 8 to Under 15
Box Finish Gates — finishing drill, 12 min, Under 8 to Adults
Pass And Strike — finishing drill, 15 min, Under 6 to Adults
Loose Ball Finish — finishing drill, 14 min, Under 7 to Adults
Bounce Finish Box — finishing drill, 12 min, Under 8 to Adults
First-Time Flanks — crossing drill, 12 min, Under 10 to Adults
Endline Express — crossing drill, 10 min, Under 8 to Adults
Late Run Serve — crossing drill, 14 min, Under 11 to Adults
Blindside Pop — heading drill, 12 min, Under 12 to Adults
Trap The Touch — pressing drill, 10 min, Under 7 to Under 16
First Move Hunt — pressing drill, 10 min, Under 7 to Under 16
Touch And Challenge — tackling drill, 15 min, Under 8 to Adults
Pause And Play — playing out from the back drill, 12 min, Under 6 to Under 14
Angle And Break — playing out from the back drill, 18 min, Under 10 to Adults
Diamond Drift — team shape drill, 13 min, Under 8 to Adults
Low Ball Box — goalkeeping drill, 12 min, Under 7 to Under 14
Triangle Tempo — cool downs drill, 10 min, Under 5 to Adults
Triangle Breakthrough — attacking drill, 14 min, Under 8 to Under 16
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 193 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.

Other drill categories

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