Receiving The Ball
Learn how to prepare your body, control the incoming ball, and turn your first touch into your next action.
⚽ What Does It Mean To Receive The Ball?
Receiving the ball is more than simply getting your foot on it.
It is the process of preparing your body, judging the incoming pass, controlling the ball, and setting yourself up for what happens next.
Every reception should answer an important question:
What do I want to do after I receive it?
Your answer should influence where and how you take your first touch.
A strong reception allows you to:
✓ Keep possession
✓ Face forward
✓ Escape pressure
✓ Connect with teammates
✓ Attack space
✓ Prepare your next pass
✓ Create time for yourself
⭐ Elite Tip
Do not wait for the ball to arrive before preparing. The best reception begins before the pass reaches you.
🧍 Body Position Before Receiving
Your body position determines how many options you have when the ball arrives.
Whenever possible, avoid standing completely square to the ball.
Instead, position your body so you can see the field and move in multiple directions.
Focus on:
✓ Staying light on your feet
✓ Keeping your knees slightly bent
✓ Opening your body toward the field
✓ Turning your head to scan
✓ Keeping your weight balanced
✓ Preparing the foot you want to receive with
An open body position allows you to receive and play forward more quickly.
A closed body position can force you to take extra touches before you can attack the next action.
⭐ Elite Tip
Try to see the field before the ball reaches you. Your body should already be prepared for the direction you want to play.
🦶 Which Foot Should You Receive With?
The foot you choose can completely change what happens after your first touch.
As a general rule, receive with the foot that helps you move the ball away from pressure and toward your next action.
For example:
✓ Defender on your right → consider receiving with your left
✓ Space to your left → guide the ball toward that space
✓ Playing forward → prepare the foot that allows you to open your body
✓ Pressure from behind → use your touch to protect the ball
This does not mean you should always use the same foot.
The correct foot depends on the position of the defender, the direction of the pass, and the space available.
⭐ Elite Tip
Choose your receiving foot based on the next action, not simply on which foot is closest to the ball.
🛑 Cushioning The Ball
A good first touch absorbs the energy of the incoming pass instead of allowing the ball to bounce away from you.
This is called cushioning the ball.
As the ball arrives, relax the receiving surface slightly and allow it to move with the ball instead of fighting against it.
Think about:
✓ Matching the speed of the pass
✓ Relaxing the receiving foot
✓ Softening the contact
✓ Keeping the ball within playing distance
✓ Immediately preparing your next movement
A hard touch can push the ball away.
A controlled touch keeps the ball available for your next action.
⭐ Elite Tip
Do not try to stop the ball with a stiff foot. Give slightly with the ball and absorb its energy.
↗️ Receiving Into Space
When you have time and space, your first touch should often take you away from where the ball came from.
Instead of receiving the ball directly underneath your body, guide it into the space you want to attack.
This can allow you to:
✓ Move forward faster
✓ Avoid unnecessary touches
✓ Attack open space
✓ Create passing angles
✓ Force defenders to move
The direction of your first touch should help you gain an advantage.
↗️ Forward
Use a forward touch when there is open space to attack.
↔️ Sideways
Use a sideways touch to escape pressure or create a new angle.
↘️ Diagonal
A diagonal touch can move you away from pressure while keeping you moving forward.
🛡️ Away From Pressure
When a defender closes quickly, move the ball away from their strongest route.
⭐ Elite Tip
Your first touch should not simply control where the ball is. It should control where the defender has to go next.
🎯 Receiving Different Passes
Not every pass arrives the same way.
You must adjust your technique based on the speed, height, and direction of the ball.
Fast ground pass:
Use a softer receiving action to absorb the pace.
Slow ground pass:
You may have time to take a more aggressive touch into space.
Bouncing ball:
Stay balanced and adjust your body to the changing height of the ball.
High pass:
Prepare the correct surface and focus on cushioning the ball down into playable space.
The ball dictates the technique.
Great players adapt instead of trying to use one technique for every situation.
⭐ Elite Tip
Do not judge the ball only by where it is. Judge its speed, spin, height, and direction before deciding how to control it.
🧠 Receive With Your Next Action In Mind
One of the biggest differences between average and elite players is what happens immediately after receiving the ball.
Before the ball arrives, decide what your next action could be.
Maybe you want to:
✓ Pass forward
✓ Turn
✓ Dribble
✓ Protect the ball
✓ Switch play
✓ Shoot
✓ Combine with a teammate
Your first touch should make that action easier.
If your first touch forces you to stop, turn around, or chase the ball, you have probably lost valuable time.
⭐ Elite Tip
Think one action ahead. If you know what you want to do next, your first touch becomes much more intentional.
🏆 The Receiving Sequence
Elite receiving can be broken down into a simple sequence.
1️⃣ Scan
Check your surroundings before the ball arrives.
2️⃣ Prepare
Open your body and prepare your receiving surface.
3️⃣ Judge
Read the speed, direction, height, and pressure.
4️⃣ Receive
Use the correct technique to control the ball.
5️⃣ Attack
Move the ball into your next action.
⭐ Elite Tip
Scan → Prepare → Judge → Receive → Attack. Repeat this process until it becomes automatic.
🔥 Common Receiving Mistakes
Avoid these mistakes when learning to receive the ball.
Standing still:
A stationary body makes it harder to adjust.
Watching only the ball:
You may control the ball but lose awareness of the defender.
Using a stiff foot:
The ball can bounce away instead of staying under control.
Taking the ball underneath your body:
This can force you to take another touch before moving.
Ignoring the next action:
You may control the ball successfully but still lose time.
Good receiving is not simply about avoiding mistakes.
It is about consistently creating advantages.
⭐ Elite Tip
A technically perfect touch can still be a bad touch if it puts you in a worse position. Always judge the touch by what happens next.