The Far-Foot Touch: How to Face the Goal Before You Even Trap the Ball

When a teammate passes you the ball, what do you do first?

Most players just want to stop the ball. They reach out with the foot closest to the ball and trap it.

This is a mistake.

If you stop the ball with your near foot, you lock yourself in a cage. Your back stays turned to the opponent's goal. You cannot see the field. You have to stop, turn around, and then look for a pass. By the time you do all that, a defender will run up and steal the ball.

Today, we will learn how to unlock that cage. We do this with a trick called the far-foot touch.

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Why the Near Foot Fails

Imagine you are playing midfield. You are facing your own defender who has the ball.

If they pass the ball to your right side, your right foot is your "near foot." It is closest to the ball. If you trap the ball with your right foot, your body stays facing your own defender.

To look at the opponent's goal, you have to spin your whole body around. This takes two or three extra steps. In soccer, two steps is a long time.

Now, imagine the same pass. But this time, you let the ball roll past your right foot. It rolls across your body. You trap it with the inside of your left foot. Your left foot is your "far foot."

Because you let the ball roll across your body, your hips naturally turn. Your body opens up like a door. Now you can see your teammate, the ball, and the opponent's goal all at the same time. You are ready to run or pass forward instantly.

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How to Do the Far-Foot Touch

This skill is easy to learn, but you have to practice it until you do not have to think about it. Here is how to do it step-by-step:

• Point your belly button: As the ball travels toward you, do not face the player who passed it. Turn your body sideways. Point your belly button toward the sideline.
• Let it roll: Do not reach out to stop the ball early. Let the ball roll across the front of your body.
• Catch with the inside: Use the inside of your far foot to catch the ball. If the ball came from your right, catch it with your left foot. If it came from your left, catch it with your right foot.
• Push it forward: Do not stop the ball dead. As you touch it, push it slightly ahead of you. This is your escape touch. Now you are already running forward.

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How to Practice at Home

You do not need a team to practice this. You only need a ball and a wall.

Stand about five steps away from a wall. Kick the ball against the wall. When it bounces back to you, do not stand flat-footed. Turn your body sideways. Let the ball roll across your body and trap it with your far foot.

Pass with your right foot, let it roll across, and trap with your left. Then kick with your left foot, let it roll across, and trap with your right.

Try to do this 50 times every day. Soon, your body will do it automatically during a game. You will find that you have much more time on the ball because you do not have to waste time turning around. You will see the whole field, and the game will feel much slower and easier.