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Post by Strikermom on Oct 7, 2014 22:08:35 GMT -5
My coach keeps telling my striker daughter to work on first touches but not really getting an idea of what he wants. If she us not receiving the ball from midfield, or from the air, can't make a move. Any skill videos focusing on this?
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Post by rifle on Oct 8, 2014 6:35:26 GMT -5
Find a ball and a wall. That is all.
Fifteen minutes a day receiving the ball from every angle with foot, head, shoulder, chest, thigh, etc. First, treat that ball like an egg and receive it softly. Second, work to receive it AND direct to different places (to stimulate turning away from a defender) and dribble out of it with your head up.
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Post by silverback on Oct 8, 2014 8:10:09 GMT -5
I will never forget a coach from another country once told me the challenge with many US players is that too many players take three touches on the ball. The second touch is needed only to correct the first bad touch. His recommendation was (as stated above by Rifle) get a ball and wall and work on that first touch to directionally place it where it needs to be so you don't need the third touch. The coach also stressed to make sure the players are looking up before he/she receives the first touch so they know where to directionally place it and keep the feet moving (don't be flat-footed, especially when practicing). Too often, players look up after the first touch to see where to play the next ball, which often requires a second touch to get the ball into the right position for the third touch. Two touches (or one) definitely increase the speed of play, which is critical as you play higher level competition.
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Post by zizou on Oct 8, 2014 8:19:01 GMT -5
My coach keeps telling my striker daughter to work on first touches but not really getting an idea of what he wants. If she us not receiving the ball from midfield, or from the air, can't make a move. Any skill videos focusing on this? go to this site and find the wall progression video...wall work and juggling are great places to start...but you need skills to beat defenders...there are a lot of good skill progression videos here that will help...turns are critical...don't have her learn too many moves...one or two that she can perfect ... meaning she never screws them up and can do them lightening fast ... and can do them with both feet...is better than having lots of moves all of which can only be implemented with average proficiency...Messi has like on move...but he does it so fast and has so many variations of it that he cannot be stopped... Yael Averbuch - YFutbol on YouTube |
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Post by Strikermom on Oct 8, 2014 8:40:01 GMT -5
Thanks all, she has the goal scoring and finishing skill down. But she does need to work on receiving the ball. Thanks.
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Post by SoccerMom on Oct 8, 2014 9:07:50 GMT -5
Thanks all, she has the goal scoring and finishing skill down. But she does need to work on receiving the ball. Thanks. First touches are important...I will always remember someone that said "Her first touch is so bad, that her second touch is a tackle" |
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Post by Keeper on Oct 8, 2014 9:28:30 GMT -5
First, treat that ball like an egg and receive it softly. This is so true. I always tell my older teams to treat the ball like your juggling eggs. I always joke that I'm going to bring a few dozen and make them control and trap them without them breaking. For parents and their kids in the back yard tossing eggs could be fun. |
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Post by chuckyb on Oct 8, 2014 10:29:52 GMT -5
First, treat that ball like an egg and receive it softly. This is so true. I always tell my older teams to treat the ball like your juggling eggs. I always joke that I'm going to bring a few dozen and make them control and trap them without them breaking. For parents and their kids in the back yard tossing eggs could be fun. I'm sorry guys, but I disagree with everything said here. The only thing that will REALLY help your first touch is "juggling." I would suggest juggling, juggling, and more juggling. |
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Post by pooldawg on Oct 8, 2014 10:55:39 GMT -5
In my son's personal experience, I would have to agree with chuckyb. Juggling has vastly improved his first touch, so much so that he can receive most goalkeeper punts as delicately as handling an egg. With that said, I don't disagree with the "ball and wall" approach, as my son hasn't really used that.
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Post by reinalocura on Oct 8, 2014 11:11:29 GMT -5
Google the egg drill. And JUGGLE!!!
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Post by rifle on Oct 8, 2014 11:28:34 GMT -5
This is so true. I always tell my older teams to treat the ball like your juggling eggs. I always joke that I'm going to bring a few dozen and make them control and trap them without them breaking. For parents and their kids in the back yard tossing eggs could be fun. I'm sorry guys, but I disagree with everything said here. The only thing that will REALLY help your first touch is "juggling." I would suggest juggling, juggling, and more juggling. I'm a big fan of juggling as well. That recent news story of a seven year old who decided to commit 15 minutes per day to juggling, and could do 2400 after a year.. Pretty much tells the story. |
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leem
Jr. Academy
Posts: 21 
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Post by leem on Oct 8, 2014 11:41:20 GMT -5
Juggling will help with vertical control of the ball. Wall practice will help with sending and receiving a ball at pace. Both are equally important skills in first touch.
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Post by silverback on Oct 8, 2014 13:56:42 GMT -5
Juggling will help with vertical control of the ball. Wall practice will help with sending and receiving a ball at pace. Both are equally important skills in first touch. Totally agree. Not sure where anyone said its one or the other, but it should be definitely both. Wall practice will help with pace, angles, inside/outside foot, funny bounces (sometimes), etc. and as I said above, directionally positioning the ball for the next touch. Juggling is absolutely critical too. |
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Post by soccerfan30 on Oct 8, 2014 14:08:16 GMT -5
As a coach if I pick out just one skill that I would view as most important it would be a clean directional first touch, it allows you to do other things better and may help overcome potential athleticism/speed deficiencies. Juggling does have it's benefits in terms of muscle memory and close control with different surfaces of the body but that doesn't always translate to being a good soccer player, I know lots of freestyle jugglers that can do all sorts of tricks but can't play soccer for a lick, Ronaldo's (Brazilian) former wife/ex girlfriend held the women's juggling record I believe for a time but she couldn't play soccer either. Just like those golf trick shot guys you see on youtube, that doesn't necessarily mean they can play the game of golf.
Now if you can juggle and have a great first touch that would be more beneficial, look at how most players practice juggling, typically in a stationary position trying to get as many as possible....meaning under no pressure/duress or nor while moving at speed.
Having a great directional first touch allows players to do many things: play faster, play one and two touch, gives them extra time/space against a potentially superior athlete. You can practice under pressure, back to goal turning, receiving the ball one touch and transferring to the opposite foot for a far post shot, goalkeepers can receive back passes with a first touch towards the way they want to play out of the back, for center mids taking the first touch away from pressure, etc.
One of my former strikers was probably one of my slowest and not physically imposing but she had a great soccer mind, could find pockets of space near the goal and had a great first touch that allowed her an extra second or two to get her shot off.
Again both juggling and a great first touch are both beneficial to soccer but if I could only choose one I would choose the later because it has more game application, you can practice it in a game scenario and under duress.
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Post by chuckyb on Oct 8, 2014 14:33:46 GMT -5
As a coach if I pick out just one skill that I would view as most important it would be a clean directional first touch, it allows you to do other things better and may help overcome potential athleticism/speed deficiencies. Juggling does have it's benefits in terms of muscle memory and close control with different surfaces of the body but that doesn't always translate to being a good soccer player, I know lots of freestyle jugglers that can do all sorts of tricks but can't play soccer for a lick, Ronaldo's (Brazilian) former wife/ex girlfriend held the women's juggling record I believe for a time but she couldn't play soccer either. Just like those golf trick shot guys you see on youtube, that doesn't necessarily mean they can play the game of golf. Now if you can juggle and have a great first touch that would be more beneficial, look at how most players practice juggling, typically in a stationary position trying to get as many as possible....meaning under no pressure/duress or nor while moving at speed. Having a great directional first touch allows players to do many things: play faster, play one and two touch, gives them extra time/space against a potentially superior athlete. You can practice under pressure, back to goal turning, receiving the ball one touch and transferring to the opposite foot for a far post shot, goalkeepers can receive back passes with a first touch towards the way they want to play out of the back, for center mids taking the first touch away from pressure, etc. One of my former strikers was probably one of my slowest and not physically imposing but she had a great soccer mind, could find pockets of space near the goal and had a great first touch that allowed her an extra second or two to get her shot off. Again both juggling and a great first touch are both beneficial to soccer but if I could only choose one I would choose the later because it has more game application, you can practice it in a game scenario and under duress. Maybe I was a bit pretentious on my "Juggle, juggle, and more juggle." I also agree on wall action and also suggest... helping out and kicking the ball to them yourself. All the "wall, crossing, and simple traps" should be practiced regardless for youngers. I used to go outside in the street with my son and cross the ball in the backyard, then juggle off and on through this whole process demanding he use his left foot. When we play street soccer, the curb was the wall and we also used a wall in the backyard. All the while we do these things, at the end of the night... Juggling record breaking (for himself) would be constant. "Methods" are just that... And that's how I got my son's first touch to be really good... Also, his first foot and run off a juggle-volley. When he would take a ball off the air... I would tell him to volley. All of my son's play was meant to be off the volley... All crosses, driven balls, and ground balls even. |
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Post by soccergator on Oct 8, 2014 14:42:12 GMT -5
One of my former strikers was probably one of my slowest and not physically imposing but she had a great soccer mind, could find pockets of space near the goal and had a great first touch that allowed her an extra second or two to get her shot off. . in my experience that is what makes a top player - first touch and how you receive the ball. getting the ball out from under your feet, opening up, turning away and keeping the ball moving! don't let that ball stop. too often see girls with a terrible first touch, and the ball is constantly out of play or over the endline. nothing worse than seeing a beautiful through ball, and your striker runs on to it, and takes a first touch either away from the goal or to be honest "they have no first touch" ball flies out for a goal kick...... |
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Post by SoccerMom on Oct 8, 2014 14:46:38 GMT -5
Juggling doesn't always translate to good soccer players. Have met many people throughout the years that are amazing at juggling but cant play to save their lives. Juggling is mastered skill that with practice almost everyone can do
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Post by chuckyb on Oct 8, 2014 15:04:07 GMT -5
One of my former strikers was probably one of my slowest and not physically imposing but she had a great soccer mind, could find pockets of space near the goal and had a great first touch that allowed her an extra second or two to get her shot off. . in my experience that is what makes a top player - first touch and how you receive the ball. getting the ball out from under your feet, opening up, turning away and keeping the ball moving! don't let that ball stop. too often see girls with a terrible first touch, and the ball is constantly out of play or over the endline. nothing worse than seeing a beautiful through ball, and your striker runs on to it, and takes a first touch either away from the goal or to be honest "they have no first touch" ball flies out for a goal kick...... Having a first touch is vital for goals as strikers and vital for play as wingers. Hell, a first touch is vital, period. |
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Post by chuckyb on Oct 8, 2014 15:07:42 GMT -5
Juggling doesn't always translate to good soccer players. Have met many people throughout the years that are amazing at juggling but cant play to save their lives. Juggling is mastered skill that with practice almost everyone can do That's true. Hence, juggling acts like this.... But, it can also translate to play like this: |
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