swajetdr wrote: My U10 girls team they receive the ball, but then stop it dead. Is there any games/drills to help make the first touch more productive.
Great question.
First touch is usually learned at a later age with most players. However, with more experienced players we do teach it earlier. We set up a small square with 4 cones. Each of these cones are about 4 ft apart.
The player receives balls on the ground and in the air. We ask them to MOVE the ball with their first touch out of the square based on the direction we CALL OUT.
Prior to throwing or kicking the ball to them we would shout, LEFT, RIGHT, FORWARD, or BACK.
The player must touch the ball out of the square with their first touch based on our call.
Once they have learned this part, we move to a 4 v 1 setup in a large square.
Each pass received must be moved on first touch rather than receiving it in the same spot.
The next step is to have a small sided game.
If a team does not move the ball with first touch on every pass, the other team gets possession.
This is a transition process that works very well.
