Week 7 · U8
First touch & receiving
Objectives — what the players will do
- 1Cushion a rolling ball with a soft "pillow foot" first touch
- 2Take the first touch into space instead of stopping the ball dead
- 3Peek up before the ball arrives to see what is around
Play 1 — starts when the second player arrives
4v4 Free Play — Watch the First Touch
Straight into 4v4 (3v3 while players are still arriving) to small goals. Do not coach yet — just watch: when the ball reaches a player, do they control it, or does it bounce away? You are collecting examples for the practice.
Practice — the one taught activity of the night
Explorer's First Touch
A 20x15 grid with four or five small cone gates scattered inside. Players in pairs with one ball: the partner passes, and the receiver takes their FIRST touch through the nearest open gate, dribbles on, then passes back. After a few minutes, walk behind the receivers as a slow "chaser" they must take their touch away from. Swap roles often. The cue: soft ankle, firm push — the touch should travel a yard or two toward space.
Passer rolls the ball in by hand, no chaser, bigger gates.
Chase the receiver for real, or ask for the first touch with the outside of the foot.
Play 2 — always finish playing the real game
4v4 — Soft Touch Bonus
Back to the 4v4 game. Loudly shout out every first touch that takes the ball into space, and goals that started with a controlled first touch count double.
Key coaching points — in your own words
- ·Can you make a pillow with your foot so the ball lands softly?
- ·Where did your first touch take the ball — into space, or stuck under your feet?
- ·What did you see before the ball arrived?
- ·Can you peek over your shoulder before the pass comes?
Passes come in firmer and the chaser gets quicker.
Slow rolled balls and lots of repetitions — comfort first, speed later.
Game-day focus — watch for this on Saturday
Watch receiving on Saturday: cheer every player who controls the ball before doing something with it. No booting the first touch away — control it, then pass or dribble. Keep rotating the diamond.
Message to forward to your parents
This week is first touch — cushioning the ball softly so the game slows down for them. At home, roll a ball to your child and have them cushion it and pass it back. Five minutes on the porch makes a real difference.
This week's two videos
Prep the night before; copy the activity on the field.
Play Practice Play Training Session
Watch the night before to understand the idea
A clear animated walkthrough of how a Play-Practice-Play session hangs together — the exact structure our youngest two bands train in. Watch before your first session back to sharpen how you open with play and return to play. Use it to frame every week of the month, not just Week 1.
Watch on YouTubeReceiving And Turning Football/Soccer Drill | For Kids | U7 - U8 - U9 |
A drill you can copy on the field
A first taste of look-before-you-receive, packaged for U7–U9 attention spans. Use it in the Develop and Challenge weeks as the bridge from heads-up dribbling to taking a picture before the ball arrives. Keep the pattern short and celebrate every genuine pre-look.
Watch on YouTube