PASSING

Before I go into the passing drills, let me add some advice which I have learned over the years. As I have mentioned there are a lot of different youth football coaching drills that one can use, however you do not have the time to implement every one. If you’re an amateur coach, then time is a problem (you don’t have enough of it). Therefore you need to assess what’s really effective and works versus what’s fun and time consuming.

When passing a ball it is important to use the inside foot from the base of the big toe to the central area of the heel under the ankle bone. The kicking foot is at a right angle to the ball and the player’s belly button should be facing the player who is receiving the pass. Let the kicking foot hit the ball’s horizontal mid-line in order to keep the ball low.

1)      PASS & SHOOT DIRECTLY:  Set up three groups of players outside the goal box and at least 20 meters apart in a triangle. The first player in the middle passes the ball to the player in the left group who passes the ball to the first player in the right group. This player should then shoot at the goal directly. All three players then rotate.

2)      DISTANCE PASSING:   In an area of 10 X 15 meters using six players per group as a maximum; place two players on either end of the marked area and two players in the middle. The player at the end side foots a pass along the ground to the center of the playing area, where the nearest player returns the ball on their second touch. The player at the end controls it and then hits a lofted pass to the far side over the heads of both players in the middle. The sequence is repeated at the opposite end.

3)      PASSING ON THE MOVE:   Mark out two small fields of about 15 X 15 meters. Divide your players into groups of no more than five players a side. The small teams face each other inside the marked out field. The team that is in possession of the ball should try to keep the ball within their team for as long as is possible. Normally eight consecutive touches within a team will gain that team a point. This is in my opinion one of the most effective youth football coaching drills and really improves inter play on match days. You should do this drill at least once a week.

Passing is a very important drill both in terms of attack as well as ensuring continued possession. You need to practice this drill every week.

Cheers for now.

Mike