First Touch Gates
Ball Control
Legend
- player
- partner
- cone gate
- ball
- movement path
How it works
Receive passes and use a controlled first touch to move the ball through a cone gate.
What you need
- cones
- soccer ball
Your focus
Directing the first touch into open space is essential for ball control in match situations. Gate targets make the drill competitive and create the habit of purposeful first touches rather than stopping the ball dead.
Set up pairs of cones as gates, 1 yard wide, scattered around a 15x15 yard area.
Players work in pairs, one passer, one receiver.
Passer plays the ball to receiver from 8 yards; receiver must first-touch the ball through a gate.
Receiver dribbles back, passes to partner, and roles switch.
Score a point for every gate the first touch goes through.
Play for 4 minutes; highest score wins.
Goal
Success is a first touch that rolls through the gate cleanly, not one that needs a second touch to fix. The gate tells you the honest truth.
Helpful cues
- Open your body to the pass before it arrives
- Touch the ball to space, not under your feet
- Inside of foot for accuracy, laces to go farther
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Allow two touches instead of one before going through the gate.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Passer can choose the pace and direction, receiver must adjust in real time.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.