Unfortunately, the first touch is also one of the most difficult skills to learn — it makes the difference between good players and great ones. While these tips won’t necessarily turn you into Cristiano Ronaldo, they will tell you what you should be looking to do every time the ball comes to you.
No matter how you plan to control the ball, you need to know where you want to put it. The point of a good first touch is putting the ball in space and getting it out of your feet so you can deliver a crisp pass or take a clean shot. So in the moment before the ball comes to you, take a peek around. It’s as simple as putting the ball where a defender is not. And as your touch improves, your confidence will, too, and you will be able to look up sooner.