Introduction
Receiving and carrying the ball, often referred to as the "first touch", are crucial to the quality of your game. With professionals, you can see that the first contact is almost always perfect and the ball is rarely "killed". A good first touch allows you to pass the ball quickly and precisely or to carry it on the run in order to outwit the opponent. In this blog post, we present you with three top exercises that will help you improve your first contact.
Exercise 1: Reaction exercise with colors
This exercise aims to improve your reaction and first contact. You work with colored markings that show you where to receive the ball. The exercise helps you to react quickly and precisely under pressure. Watch the video to see exactly how the exercise is carried out.
Exercise 2: Intensive passing and ball reception
This exercise focuses on the quality of the pass and receiving the ball. It is more intense and requires concentration even when you are already tired. This simulates game situations in which you have to receive the ball safely and continue playing despite being exhausted.
Exercise 3: Receiving long and high balls
This exercise focuses on receiving long and high balls. Here you learn to take the ball on the run and to adjust to different ball trajectories. This exercise is particularly important for strikers in order to safely handle balls that come from the defense.
Conclusion
Correct ball reception and ball control are essential to making the game fast and precise. With these three exercises you can specifically improve your first touch. For detailed instructions and further tips, watch our YouTube video.
