Category: Passing

This drill was  adapted from a game in The Ultimate Football Warm-Ups Manual.

Objective: To practice passing and receiving skills.

Set-up: Put your players into pairs. One ball per pair.

Place three flat cones in a short line.

How to play:

One player is a server and his partner works round the cones.

The player working must go forward to receive a pass then back-pedal up and around the cones in order to receive another pass on the opposite side.

The players work for 30 seconds on the following:

1. First-time pass back with left foot.

2. First-time pass back with right foot.

3. Bouncing serve and a half-volley return with left foot.

4. Bouncing serve and a half-volley return with right foot.

5. Aerial serve and a volley return with left foot.

6. Aerial serve and a volley return with right foot.

7. Aerial serve and head the ball back.

When the sequence is complete, swap the players round.

Coaching notes: Players should work at speed but accuracy is also important.

• Make the game competitive by seeing which pair can get through the entire sequence without making a mistake.

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It is so important that all your players can receive a pass properly you really need to spend a few minutes in every practice session watching how they do it and giving feedback to individual players or the group as whole.

1. Receive on one foot pass with the other.

Is the player alert and playing on their toes, do they look ready to react to the movement of the ball?

Does the player move into the line of the ball early? Any delay in reacting will make control more difficult.

They should get themselves right across the line of the ball and not end up chasing after it.

Concentration is vital, do they keep their head steady and watch the movement of the ball carefully?

If the pass is under-hit do they move quickly down the line of the ball to meet it?

To cushion the ball the foot needs to be off ground and withdrawn at the moment of contact soft ankle.

Check that they use the inside area, or top of outside of the foot to make a controlling touch on ground pass.

Contact should be with the horizontal mid-line of the ball or above to prevent it skipping up on 1st touch.

To wedge the ball sweep across the top of it with the inside or outside of the foot.

With a high ball the player should make an early decision on what surface they will use to control it.

Make sure they keep their eyes open and observe the flight of the ball.

Chest, thigh, instep & outside of foot – relax and withdraw surface on contact to cushion the ball.

The ball should not be allowed to bounce, move along line of ball to meet it as early as possible.

If under pressure does the player redirect ball into space on first touch and pass it on early?

Objective: to improve passing and receiving, playing “heads up” and communication skills.

4v4 to lines also encourages wall passes (give and go) as well as spotting team mates who are making a move into a space where they can receive a “killer” pass.

Experience: intermediate upwards. This game is probably not suitable for most players less than 10 years old.

Set-up: set up rectangular playing areas marked with lines or flat cones suitable for the age and ability of your players.

The younger and less experienced the players, the bigger the space needs to be. That may sound a bit illogical but the smaller the space, the more pressure you’ll be putting on your players and the harder it will be for them to experience success.

How to play:

Teams of four try to score by getting the ball across a nominated line.

The ball must be stopped on the line or just past it to count.

After a score, the ball is left on the line for the other team.

Variations:

• The ball must be passed through a target player before scoring.
• Award extra points for defence splitting passes, i.e., through a gap between two defenders.
• After scoring on one end line, the scoring team must attack the opposite line.
• Split the pitch into horizontal thirds and place two players from each team in the centre third and one from each team in the end thirds. Players cannot move out of their zones.
• Try splitting the pitch into vertical thirds – left, centre, right

For more soccer coaching tips and products visit Soccer Coaching Club.

Objective: To improve passing accuracy, spatial awareness and fitness.

Age group: U6 upwards.

Number of players: Whole team.

Equipment: One ball per player

Set up: Use the penalty area of a normal sized pitch or mark out a 30×20 yard area with cones. All players are in the playing area. One has a ball. The rest of the balls are lined up just outside the playing area.

How to play: All players jog around inside the area.

The player with the ball is a ‘hunter’ and he attempts to hit one of the other players below the waist with a killer ball.

(Note: do not allow the hunter to aim above the other players’ waists. A firm side-foot pass is what you are looking for.)

If a player is hit, he collects a ball from the side of the playing area and becomes a hunter. The winner is the last player to get hit by a ball.

Key football coaching points:

• “Hunted” players are not allowed out of the penalty area.
• A player who is a hunter must retrieve his own ball if it goes out of the playing area.
• Hunters can pass to each other.
• Encourage accuracy not power.
• Encourage hunters to work as a team, to hunt in packs.
• Encourage thought processes and tactics.

Age group: U10s upwards

Objective: To improve short and long passing skills

Equipment: Cones to mark out a grid, several footballs.

Set up

Play on a 7-a-side pitch or use cones to mark out a 60×40 yard grid with a halfway line. Divide your players into two teams with each team occupying one half of the playing area. Place half the soccer balls behind each end of the grid.

How to play

On your signal, both teams attempt to get all the balls into their opponent’s half without crossing the half way line.

Encourage accuracy by telling your players that if they kick the ball out of their opponent’s half – either out the back or across the side – it counts against them when the game is over.

At the end of agreed time (30 secs-1 minute) award 1 point to the team that has the most balls in their opponent’s half.

If a player touches a ball after the stop signal, you may automatically award that round to the opposition to discourage cheating.

Develop the drill

Insist that the ball is in the air when it crosses the halfway line so players can practise chipping the ball.