Coaches, kids got basic traps down?

Introduce the inside foot
touch to set up dribbling,
passing and beating
defenders...

Inside foot touch

The inside foot touch is one of my favorite soccer skills to teach kids in conjunction with passing. The touch helps players create time and space, avoid defenders and keep possession of the soccer ball. Once the players have the basic first touch or trap down the coach can introduce more touches to the kids.

A players first touch is everything! The touch can also be used in conjunction with outside foot touch and many other moves that players love to learn and use such as 1 on 1 dribbling moves.

The touch can used going forward, sideways or just getting the ball under control.

Inside foot touch going forward

To teach this skill...

• The player gets the kicking foot prepared early.
• Good technique for this skill is having the foot prepared early - toe up - heel down - ankle locked.
• The player must get the knee over the ball and move through the ball with the kicking foot.
• The players should not kill the soccer ball or stop the soccer ball.
• The player should lean in the direction he or she wants to go.

Coaching point:

You must stress to the players that the ankle must be locked, toe up and heel down otherwise the ball will either spin off the foot or go under the foot.

Inside foot touch going sideways

Good technique for this skill...

• The foot should be prepared early - toe up - heel down - ankle locked.
• This touch has the same technique as the touch going forward except the player is going sideways - body lean sideways.
• The player moves to the ball and takes the touch on the move

Great for getting away from pressure...

Applying the soccer skill

This skill can be used to...

• Change the point of attack.
• Taking a touch when receiving a pass - looking to get into space.
• Taking a touch to get out of the way of a defender.
• Taking a touch to set up a pass.
• Taking a touch to make a move.

These skills will help players in a myriad of situations.

Soccer practice

Coach the players in this game...

• The coach breaks the players up into pairs.
• The player with the ball goes down to a knee with the other player standing in front of the kneeling player.
• The kneeling player rolls the ball while the receiving player performs the skill.
• I like to have each player work for 1 min and switch...

Practice touches players can use...

• Receive the ball - take a touch inside of the foot - pass ball back.
• Receives the ball - takes a touch to the side - pass ball back.
• Receives the ball - takes a touch forward - pass the ball back.
• Receives the ball - takes the touch inside and plays it back with the other foot.
• Use the left and right foot when practicing

Once the players have some of these small touches down possession of the soccer ball will improve, and this will help them become more confident with the soccer ball.

Return to First Touch from Inside Foot Touch.