Taking your 1st touch overhead [ball traveling over you] is a NEXT LEVEL SKILL! Playing with confidence means playing with more joy! I teach this skill often because it’s something that will happen in a real game. Knowing you can control these difficult balls coming over head gives you more options and skill. Note: This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
First time I learned how to practice 1st touch overhead
The last few years in college is when I learned the importance of controlling the ball out of the air.
I remember thinking, “Wow! It would have been nice to have been introduced to this drill sooner!”
This is why I teach it to kids who are as young as 8 years old!
Are they going to be good at it the first few times?
Of course not, but imagine how good they get after a few weeks or months of training.
Great drill for all positions!
Coaching tips:
- Players have the option to use either foot, using the top, inside or outside.
- Throw 5-7 balls and then change by throwing over the other shoulder.
Learn 20 tips on heading the soccer ball
There will be times the ball travels over and others that allow you to head the ball.
Knowing how to head the ball correctly will help reduce injuries.
Practicing 1st touch overhead without pressure
The method we use with the players is a smart one.
Instead of doing lots of game-like pressure situation drills, where the players will not improve fast, we break it down for the players so that it starts easy.
This way they improve right away and feel good about their performance and ability.
The Skill Drill© I speak of is below under ‘2 Ways to Improve [Partner].’
Taking your first touch while the ball is traveling over your head is a next level skill.Click To Tweet
Be prepared with proper game like training
Playing defense in HS & college was easy for me because I was bigger and faster than most.
So for me to win the ball I would let the ball go over my head and bounce first.
Then I could get to the ball, shield & turn to go up the field.
I did this because I was not trained or confident enough to bring the ball down with no bounce. All because I was not prepared.
Related: 3 tips to boost confidence on [& off] the field
I remember my college coach saying, “Get to the ball quicker & turn before the opponent puts pressure.”
Most of the time your 1st-touch will be a soft touch that is settled to the ground.
Some of the 1st Touch Drills require you to keep the ball up in the air, but after the ball goes over your head your first touch will be to settle it down 9 out of 10 times.
Overhead
Most of the time your 1st-touch will be a soft touch that is settled to the ground.
“Don’t Let the Ball Bounce!!”
“Don’t Let the Ball Bounce!!” is what you will hear coaches yelling from the sideline.
It’s true, if you can help it.
Most of the time you don’t want the ball to bounce because it allows the defenders to get closer to the ball before you have possession.
Which Parts of the Foot when using 1st touch overhead?
If you want to bring the ball down soft before it hits the ground, you will most likely use top of the foot.
Reason: most likely the ball is coming from a high position like it’s raining down.
Which part of the laces?
The lower part of the laces on top of the toe area is where you should connect.
The reason is because we have that air pocket between our toes and shoe/boot. (Note: not the tippy toe area. Rather, top of the toes)
This allows the ball to “die” as it hits the foot.
Using the top of the laces makes the ball bouncing away because that part of the foot is harder.
receiving with laces
Other Parts of your body to control the Ball over Head
You can also use the inside or outside of the foot to trap the ball down.
Also the thigh but remember if the ball is going over your head you would have to turn your body to make this work & then be agile and quick enough to time it.
You could also use your chest if your able to move quick enough before the ball falls to the ground.
using the thigh
POSITIONS – Who uses this skill?
- Defenders deal with tons of balls flying over their heads… Whether it’s a long ball from an opposing defender or midfielder or a deflection from any ball around the 18 yard box.
- Center Midfielders might deal with the most short balls going over their head, just from a bad pass from a teammate or opponent. Being a central midfielder you are in the middle of everything so you have to deal with just about every type of ball.
- Outside Midfielders deal with lots of balls over the head but these are usually ones that are going out or even a ball knocked down the line from a defender.
- Forwards who can deal with balls over the head are going to get more chances on goal, which probably means scoring more goals. Whether its from a direct ball from the defender or mid or even a cross coming from the outside.
2 ways to practice 1st touch overhead [with partner]
Pretty basic but at the same time it’s not a common skill drill, because when I show players this I can tell they have never been taught this skill.
- Have a partner toss balls over your head so that you have to turn and bring it down. Practice with both feet.
- (More Advanced) Have a partner punt or kick a ball over your head and get used to bringing it down and keeping it close with your first touch.
3 ways to improve 1st touch overhead [solo]
Remember, to keep improving you have to train alone!
4 hours per week with your team and trainer is not enough if you really are serious about improving your game season after season.
- Ball in your hand, throw it underhand over your head and do a half turn to bring the ball down. Use different parts of the foot (Inside, Laces, Outside)
- Throw the ball underhand at the wall so that it rebounds over your head as it comes off the wall. You can also throw overhand but the ball will come back quicker & lower angle which will make it hard to react in time. Try them both out and see how it treats you. 🙂
- Buy a Rebounder that allows the ball to come up so that you get good reps like these 15 drills – video.
What Goes Up Must Come Down! Soccer Balls & CONFIDENCE both go up & down, so make sure you are practicing the right things so that your confidence stays up while the ball comes down.
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