How to Improve First Touch in Soccer: 5 Proven Methods
In soccer, your first touch is like an actor’s entrance on stage—it instantly tells the audience whether you belong in the spotlight or not. The first touch in soccer is one of the most fundamental skills all players have to develop to become better players, no matter what position or level they’re currently playing at.
Whether you’re a beginner looking to master the basics or an experienced player aiming to improve your ball control, your ability to keep the ball close with a good first touch separates good players from professional footballers. A great first touch gives you complete control in game situations, it unleashes your creativity by providing the foundation to execute more complex moves, it buys you precious seconds to improve your awareness on the field, and enhances your decision-making ability under pressure as well as boosts your game IQ by giving you more time to read the play.
Throughout my journey as a player and coach, I’ve learned that mastering how to improve your first touch in soccer is what separates players who dictate the game from those who simply react to it. Without mastering this basic technique, even the most athletic and intelligent players will struggle to reach their full potential on the field.
In this blog post, I will be going over tips, drills, and different methods to improve your first touch in soccer.
How do you improve your First Touch in Soccer?
Developing a consistent good first touch in soccer requires a combination of game-realistic practice, physical conditioning, and mental preparation. Here are the five proven methods that will transform your ball control and help you master this essential soccer skill.
Play Different Variations of the Game
The best way to improve your first touch is to get consistent touches in real game situations, such as full-sided games, small-sided games, team training, pickup games, futsal, soccer tennis, and any variation of the beautiful game. Since the game is so unpredictable, you must train in different environments that replicate match scenarios where you’ll face different speeds, angles, and defensive pressure from other players.
Your goal is to develop complete control of the soccer ball using both feet and all surfaces—inside, outside, sole, and laces—so you can keep the ball close regardless of how it arrives and who is trying to take it from you.
Train Barefoot
Another way to improve your first touch is to spend a significant amount of time training barefoot, which can be done individually or in a group setting with other players. Training barefoot develops superior foot sensitivity and creates a stronger connection with the soccer ball, which will greatly improve your first touch and overall ball control.
When you feel the ball directly against your skin, you build natural feedback and balance that transfers into more confident touches when you put your cleats back on. This practice also provides grounding therapy benefits when you train on natural surfaces, which is great for improving energy levels, mitochondrial function, and recovery naturally.
3. Use the Maximal Intent Principle during Individual Training
To improve your first touch, it is very important that when you train alone, you’re using the maximal intent principle, which means practicing at game speed to replicate match intensity. Usually, individual training can lack the unpredictability of playing against other players, so you must create that game-realistic environment through maximum effort and focus.
Here are the best individual training drills to master your first touch, and these drills can be done with and without your soccer cleats.
- Barefoot Juggling: The most fundamental drill for developing your first touch is juggling the soccer ball barefoot to get high-quality touches while building foot sensitivity. Use both feet, vary heights, and challenge yourself with different ball sizes to improve your ball control skills.
- Ball Control From the Air Drill: For this drill, you can either kick the ball up or throw the ball high in the air and control it as it drops, keeping it as close to your body as possible without letting it bounce away. Create a small area or grid and practice keeping the ball within that space using both feet.
- Wall Passing Drills: Use a wall as your training partner to practice different types of passes—one-touch, two-touch, ground passes, and driven passes. Focus on controlling the ball with various surfaces of your feet when it returns and working at game speed for 2-3 minute intervals.
- Wall Juggling: Combine juggling with wall work by keeping the ball in the air between you and the wall without letting it drop. This drill improves your first touch while developing quick reactions and ball control under pressure.
4. Improve your Athleticism and Coordination
As a footballer, your athleticism forms the foundation of your game because greater body awareness and coordination make it easier to control both your body and the soccer ball. The more athletic and coordinated you become, the better your ability to maintain possession and execute your next move with precision.
Focus on these key areas to develop the physical foundation that supports a great first touch:
- Improve your body’s biotensegrity via the fascia system
- Enhance your ability to create and absorb force
- Develop the spiral characteristics of your movement
- Build back-chain dominance during running
- Create proper ankle stiffness for better balance
- Stay on the balls of your feet in an athletic position at speed
5. Improve your Confidence and Composure
Finally, when it comes to your first touch, mental training is just as important as physical training because confidence in your soccer skills directly impacts your first touch performance. Staying composed and cool under pressure allows you to focus on the important thing—controlling the soccer ball rather than rushing your next move.
This mental approach helps you maintain possession even when a defender closes in or teammates need you to pass the ball quickly.
Final Thoughts
Mastering your first touch in soccer transforms you from a player who reacts to situations into one who creates them, giving you the confidence to control any pass under pressure. The five methods in this guide—playing game variations, training barefoot, using maximal intent, improving athleticism, and developing composure—work together to build the complete foundation for elite ball control.
Start implementing these techniques in your very next training session, stay consistent with your practice, and watch as your improved first touch unlocks new levels of creativity and decision-making in your overall game.
FAQS
Why is a Good First Touch an Important Skill?
A good first touch is one of the fundamental skills in soccer because it sets the foundation for ball control and helps players maintain possession of the ball under pressure. A good first touch buys you time, even if it is just split seconds, and allows you to keep the soccer ball close, react to game situations, and execute your next move quickly, whether it’s to pass, dribble, or shoot the ball.
A bad first touch can lead to losing possession, giving the other team an advantage, and putting your team under pressure because it forces rushed decisions and can lead to costly mistakes.
How to improve the first step in soccer?
Improving your first step in soccer requires developing explosive power through fascia training, plyometric exercises, combined with agility drills that focus on quick direction changes. Practice acceleration drills from different starting positions, standing, jogging, and from a complete stop, to build the muscle memory needed for rapid first-step movement.
What equipment do you need to improve your first touch?
The beauty of improving your first touch is that you need minimal equipment—just a soccer ball and any wall or flat surface for rebounding practice. Optional equipment that can enhance your training includes cones or markers to create small grids for ball control drills, but many of the most effective first touch drills require nothing more than a ball, a wall / rebounder, and consistent practice.
