How to Receive a Soccer Pass

In this soccer passing drill we learn how to receive a soccer pass. First touch in soccer is everything! 

This video is geared towards beginner players and players needing help with their touch. If you are an advanced player watching this stick around and you will learn an easy exercise that pros like to do on how to challenge your touch!

Key Points:

1. Ankle locked, toe up, raise foot an inch or so off the ground. You want your toe up to provide more surface area for the ball to hit. If your toe is down, less of your foot will touch the ball increasing the chance you will mess up your touch.

2. Position inside of your foot to the incoming ball.

3. Push ball forward or cushion ball in. If the ball is coming soft then you want to push the ball forward a little bit. If the ball is coming really hard at you then cushion the ball in and try to take some of the pace out of the ball. So right as it hits you bring your leg back. Think of catching an egg on this one. Do you catch an egg and just let it hit your hands? No, you cradle and cushion it in. Same applies with a fast coming soccer ball.

4. Touch sets up pass, dribble or shot. Typically if no defenders are around you want to take a touch a few steps in front of you towards your dominant foot so your next touch is a pass or a shot. Every situation is different so it's up to you to decide how close or far to take your touch. 

Equipment Needed: Ball and a Partner or Fence. 

Soccer Exercise Player Can Do: 

If you don't have a partner. Use a fence or wall. Have your partner pass you the ball, starting off slow passes. Receive it and pass it back. Repeat until comfortable. Once comfortable start increasing the pace of the pass and challenging yourself. 

I need you to be my partner for this one! 

For you advanced players one things pros like to do during warm ups is challenging each other's touches. So get a partner, stand about 10-15 yards away and pass it at each other really hard, I am really hard. The idea is to receive it under control and pass it back. If someone messes up have fun and tease them a little bit. The teasing and lighthearted trash talking for this one is a fun way to add pressure to the situation making it more challenging. Pros are always challenging themselves. 

What Player Could Be Doing Wrong: 

If you are not making a good touch it is because of two things. If the ball is being passed at you hard and it just seems to fly off of you as if it hit a wall that is because you are not cushioning that ball in. Right as the ball hits you bring your leg back a little to take the pace out of the ball. 

Also make sure your foot doesn't look like this! Remember you want your ankle locked toe up so more of your foot will be on the ball giving you greater control. 

Bonus Tip!

Don't be nervous receiving a pass. Once you have practiced a bunch be confident in your ability. As the ball is traveling to you do not be thinking "Don't mess up, don't mess up". Be confident! You need to be thinking, "I will control this ball and put it exactly where I want too". 

This Video Covers:
How to Receive a Soccer Pass - How to Control a Soccer Ball - Soccer Ball Control -
How to Trap a Soccer Ball - Soccer Skills- Soccer Drills - Soccer Tutorial