First touch in the box with coloured gates (Ajax)
First-touch exercise from the Ajax methodology: two players inside a box receive from the outside lines, take an oriented touch and play forward through a gate. It progresses until the coach calls the colour of the gate the ball must go through.
El 1 se ofrece en movimiento y recibe del 3; el entrenador canta 'azul' antes de que llegue el balón.
Objective
Oriented first touch, scanning before receiving and quick decision making based on the pressure and the coach's cue.
Organisation
Central 8x8 m box marked with cones inside a 20x20 m area. Two players inside the box, with a ball on each of the two entry sides. On the outer sides, three coloured disc gates (yellow, blue and red) with one player at each and a starting line with balls on the fourth side. Minimum eight players and two balls.
Development
- 1The player at the starting line passes to the player inside the box, who has offered on the move; the receiver takes a first touch forward and with the second passes through the gate opposite to the outside player.
- 2Everyone follows their pass: the passer enters the box, the box player moves out to the gate and the gate player dribbles to the starting line.
- 3Progression 1: the outside player who passes steps in to pressure the box player, who must speed up the touch and the pass.
- 4Progression 2: the pressure arrives at the exit gate; the receiver touches the ball away from the pressure before passing.
- 5Progression 3: the outside players stand on one side or the other of their gate and the box player must scan to see them before receiving.
- 6Progression 4: the coach calls a colour before the ball arrives and the box player must orient the touch and pass through the gate of that colour.
Coaching points4
- Eyes up and scan before the ball arrives: head on a swivel.
- First touch forward and away from pressure, one step ahead of the body.
- The second touch is the pass: low, firm and through the middle of the gate.
- Offer on the move inside the box, never wait standing still.
Common mistakes3
- Controlling back towards the passer and needing a third touch to turn.
- Watching only the ball and not seeing which side the gate player is on.
- Reacting to the colour after the touch instead of orienting the first touch already.
Variations3
- Change the cue: the coach holds up a bib of the colour instead of calling it.
- Demand the pass through the gate with the weaker foot.
- The gate players return first time and the box player turns towards another gate.
Progressions2
- Real defender inside the box who can win the ball: if he does, roles swap.
- Call the colour once the ball is already travelling to shorten the decision time.
Regressions2
- Base version only, without pressure or colours, until the first touch is clean.
- Bigger box (10x10 m) and free touches.
Tips
- Use clearly different disc colours and check everyone can see them from inside.
- Keep two balls in play so the box player always has the next action coming.