One-touch pass

A one touch in soccer is a specific style of play where the players move the ball around quickly with a simple tap or hit of the ball. Once the ball comes in their direction, the player receives and passes the ball to the next player with the same touch. Needing a quick hit, the player does not trap or dribble the ball first before moving it along. Although it is common with passing, a one touch hit is also used for shooting the ball on goal.

This skill is good for teams needing to move the ball around quickly or to get a shot off quickly. For example, a player may send the ball over to their teammate who is breaking towards the goal and the receiving player may hit the ball with a split- second one touch to beat the keeper.

Every “one touch” shot or pass occurs on the “first touch”, so if a player wants to be good at one-touch, they should try to develop a good “first touch”. However, a good first touch doesn’t mean everything has to be one touch – it just means that the player has good control on the first touch (a player, might, for example, block a pass into open space away from an opponent and then pass or shoot on the second touch, or might retain possession and dribble or pass the ball).

Example of how One Touch is used in commentary: Beckham hits a crossing Donovan who one touches the ball into the back of the net for the goal.