Video: Wall Passing Soccer Workout - Improve First Touch Football Training by DJ Diveny
Session goals
- Help the child make a first touch that stays playable.
- Move the ball away from pressure instead of trapping it under the feet.
- Add one simple decision without making the pass too fast.
Session plan
Give the player repeated rebounds so the first touch appears often.
Pass into the wall, move one step, then control the rebound before the next pass.
Run it like this
- Start close to a safe wall or partner.
- Pass gently and receive the return.
- Take the first touch one step to the side.
- Pass again only after the ball is under control.
Coaching cues
- Make the touch playable, not perfect.
- Move the touch away from the feet.
- Shorten the distance if the rebound becomes wild.
Teach the player to receive across the body and into the next action.
Feed the ball from the front and take the first touch across the body into the open receiving gate.
Run it like this
- Make a small receiving gate.
- Start side-on to the feeder.
- Let the ball travel across the body.
- Take the first touch through the gate and pass back.
Coaching cues
- Open the hips before the ball arrives.
- Use the far foot when possible.
- Keep the touch close enough for the return pass.
Add a simple decision so the first touch goes toward a named space.
A simple setup view for this drill.
Run it like this
- Place two or three coloured gates around the receiver.
- Pass at a manageable speed.
- Call a colour as the ball travels.
- The receiver takes the first touch toward that gate.
Coaching cues
- Look before the ball arrives.
- Do not call the colour too late at first.
- Reward the right direction before demanding speed.
Finish
Use the final minute for three calm first touches in a row: one to the left, one to the right, and one through the called gate.
Make it easier
Use two gates, slower passes, and allow the child to stop the ball before moving it.
Make it harder
Call the target later, add a passive defender, or ask the player to pass back with the weaker foot.
Safety
Use soft feeds and keep space behind every receiving gate. Avoid hard wall rebounds in tight rooms or near glass.
Common questions
Can this first-touch session work without a partner?
Yes, use a safe wall for the first block and keep the colour-call block as a self-called direction challenge.
Should a first touch always go forward?
No. The useful touch goes where the next action has space. Sometimes that is forward, sideways, or away from pressure.