FIRST TOUCH SOCCER
"The Most Important Touch"
OVERVIEW
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BACKGROUND ON FIRST TOUCH SOCCER
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| First Touch Soccer is entering its fourth year of operation. We are a small nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing soccer skills for boys and girls with all skills and abilities. Over the years, First Touch Soccer programs have included boys and girls from all over the world. We provide athletic opportunities and social interactions for children from diverse cultural, ethnic and social backgrounds. The most recent programs have included children from Africa, the Caribbean, South America, Europe and Latin America with foreign language fluency in Spanish, French, Dutch, German, Swedish, Italian, Maltese, Wolof and Setswana. While the organization is geared to improving soccer skills and sports attitudes for our youth, the mission is also driven by its commitment to donate funds to various charitable causes. A list of those charities and organizations can be viewed on the Charitable Donations page of the website. In fact, the First Touch Soccer Board of Directors agree that all financial proceeds generated from clinics, programs and training will go to support education in the underprivileged global community. We are currently in the process of developing an educational scholarship program for girls and boys in Thailand. |
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| Parents and players ask me why First Touch Soccer? “Does this mean your program is only for beginners?" Throughout the world, soccer players, coaches and trainers know that “the first touch” determines a player’s ability. It is the first touch that allows a player to receive the ball, turn on the ball and move the ball to space. It allows the player to create space and distance from a defender in order to maintain ball possession. It establishes every other individual technical/skill component of the game -- dribble, pass or shoot. |
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| Simply put, we love playing and interacting with the kids. The First Touch Soccer staff loves the game and the kids. We have watched the kids play school, travel and recreation soccer and realize we can improve their skills and game understanding. We work on a progression of activities that build up to game conditions with emphasis on multiple formats of small-side games. Most important, we get results. We have many players come through the program who have made tremendous advancements on their recreation, school and travel team. Our focus is on developing the technical skills necessary to becoming a better player, a supportive teammate and a leader. First Touch Soccer is devoted to improving the technical skills and tactical understanding of soccer for Boys and Girls ages 7 and older. The clinics are designed to improve dribbling, ball control, passing, shooting, two-footed and overall play by focusing on the most of important of all touches --- the First Touch. Scholarships are available to those in need of financial assistance. The game of soccer must be expanded to include children from all socioeconomic backgrounds. First Touch Soccer is committed to teaching soccer to youth in a constructive, mentoring and positive environment. Call to find out more. |
SOCCER PHILOSOPHY
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| Soccer is not a one-way game nor is it linear. It is multi-dimensional: a combination of both chess and geometry. It is chess because the player always needs to think ahead to the next move -- how to receive the ball, what space to touch the ball to and where to pass, dribble or shoot. Soccer is also geometry. Geometry because the game is based on angles -- right, equilateral, isosceles and scalene triangles. A player must learn to play without the ball. During a game, players are probably without the ball 95% of the time. Therefore, they need to be in a position to receive the ball. Perhaps not the first pass, or the second pass but anticipating where the play is developing, getting into position and playing either a supportive offensive or defensive role. It is one of the more difficult concepts for young players to understand. However, First Touch Soccer stresses this concept and has developed skills training and small-side games to develop this critical piece of the game. |
