I have always found that the thing that has let us down at that 'next step' and our biggest problem has been 'time needed on the ball'.
I think that's a combination of
a: a first touch that is not good enough for that level (or if you like, not as good as it should be) and
b: players not aware of when they received the ball, where their options are and if they receive it, they can shuffle it on quickly without having to take a touch, take another to stop it bouncing from the 1st touch and stop it, look up to find an option, take a touch to roll it slightly and then pass it.
I find it very evident at CWC where players like James Pritchett at ASBP can look ok, but at the next level, his first touch gets him into all kinds of problems. I think you sum it up nicely as doing too much with the ball.
I can recall watching Beckham at Mt Smart and while this is a radical example because of his class vs what we are talking about with u17 kids, he only ever took one touch and the ball was moved on very quickly to the next option which was one of 3 he could choose depending on where he received the ball and what the defence gave him. That's what I think made Ryan Nelsen so outstanding. He only ever needed one slight touch to the next guy and while it was minimalist, it was fantastic. I think THATS the virtue the likes of Declan Edge need to trump in his coaching - that he helps to develop a better first touch and I guess football vision, not this 700 passes crap.
Granted we are talking about u17 NZ kids that are in some parts, Saturday morning footballers but that is the standard and its a bit of a rude awakening like this score line.
Agree.
Impossible to overstate importance of 'first touch' to young footballers.
Certainly the number one thing I tell my son to work on, because without a good first touch you put yourself under immediate pressure (against good football players). Good first touch can give you more time on ball to make decisions, or at least, a better chance of retaining posession.