The first touch in soccer is often the most crucial touch when receiving a ball. How you receive a ball will often determine your fate and will most definitely dictate the direction of your attack.

Assure players receive the ball with the proper surface of the foot or body to put the ball in the most suitable space. A touch played in the wrong direction often denies a forward attacking pass and will put the receiving player in a lousy situation.

When teaching receiving, make a note of positive or negative touch. A positive touch allows the player to keep possession while advancing the ball to the attacking team's goal, where a negative touch will not allow the player to advance and often requires a pass towards the player's own goal.

Purpose of Soccer Receiving and Turning Drills

• Allows a team to stay in posession of the ball.
• The first-touch puts players in attacking opportunity.
• Allows players to maintain posession.
• Allows players advancing towards your attacking goal.

Soccer Receiving and Turning Drills Requires

• Players to be confortable with the ball.
• Players must be able to control both flighted and ground balls.
• Soccer players must be able to command the ball and receive the ball into the required open space.