FTS OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW

BACKGROUND

Established in 2007, First Touch Soccer is a small, independent, nonprofit organization based in Washington DC.

First Touch Soccer is dedicated to enhancing soccer technique and tactics, sportsmanship, physical fitness and leadership skills for elementary and middle school boys and girls in the Washington DC metropolitan area.

First Touch Soccer conducts spring, summer, and winter (indoor) clinics for boys and girls with all skill levels 7 years of age and older. However, younger children have attended on a case by case basis.

WHY CALL IT "FIRST TOUCH SOCCER?"

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 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 the defender in order to maintain ball possession. It establishes every other individual technical/skill component of the game -- dribble, pass or shoot.

Our program and sessions are small enough to offer individual and small group instruction, training and coaching. We typically cap participation at 20-25 participants so we can focus on the players. We usually have a player coach ratio of 6:1. This allows us to interact with each player and get to know them.

The program is designed to improve a player's technical skills and game understanding. We conduct the clinics by teaching skills and having them apply the skills in various game-like situations. We don't want players standing around in lines and waiting. It defeats the essence of the game which is constant movement and positioning.

We conduct this program for the love and fun of the game. Whether you are learning, have some skills, still trying to juggle the ball, play at recreation level, have more advanced soccer skills or play on a "select" team, our program has put in place a set of practices and small-side games that are guaranteed to enhance your style, technical skills and understanding of the game.

We encourage individuality, creativity and emphasize to the players that you play for the love of the game.

WHY CHOOSE FIRST TOUCH SOCCER?

Simply put, we love playing an interacting with the kids. The First Touch Soccer staff loves the game and the kids. We have watched the kids play in school, "travel" and recreation soccer. Based on this, we can 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 become a better player, a supportive teammate and a leader.

First Touch Soccer is devoted to improving the technical skills and tactical understanding for girls and boys 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 important of all touches -- the First Touch.

Mission

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. Programs have included children from Africa, the Caribbean, South America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and USA with foreign language fluency in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, German, Danish, Japanese, Russian, Latvian, Arabic, Hungarian, Finnish, Swedish, Norweigian, 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.

SOCCER PHILOSOPHY

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 -- maybe 40-50 touches per game. 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 attacking or defending 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.

FIRST TOUCH SOCCER IS A CERTIFIED NONPROFIT CORPORATION ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFIES AS AN EXEMPT ORGANIZATION UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE.