Why passing is important in soccer |
A good passing game is essential to being a successful soccer player. Teams who pass intelligently and accurately can move the ball around the field while conserving energy. Meanwhile, the opposing team wastes energy as they try to win the ball back. While good passing helps you control the speed of the game and helps you tire out your opponents, just one bad pass from anywhere on the field can be the difference between victory and defeat.
Passing is all about speed, technique, and accuracy – all of which can be improved with soccer passing drills. These soccer passing drills were designed to improve your passing skills in all different kinds of game situations. |
drills
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/1/5/131508884/published/soccer-pass-snip-1.png?1587594254)
Pass on both sides of the cones
Recommended equipment: 2 cones, 1 ball
Number of players required: 2 players
Set-up: Place two cones five meters apart.
Exercise: In these soccer passing drills, players pass the ball to each other on either side of two cones in a counter-clockwise direction or clockwise direction.
Purpose: Soccer passing drills like this one are designed to improve first touch; work on changing direction and creating space.
Recommended equipment: 2 cones, 1 ball
Number of players required: 2 players
Set-up: Place two cones five meters apart.
Exercise: In these soccer passing drills, players pass the ball to each other on either side of two cones in a counter-clockwise direction or clockwise direction.
Purpose: Soccer passing drills like this one are designed to improve first touch; work on changing direction and creating space.
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/1/5/131508884/published/soccer-pass-snip-2.png?1587594420)
Check in, check out
Recommended equipment: 3 cones, 1 ball
Number of players required: 2 players
Set-up: Place two cones 15-20 meters apart and a third cone 5-10 meters from the second cone to form a straight line of three cones.
Exercise: In these soccer passing drills, player 2 starts at the furthest cone from player 1. Player 2 runs to the center cone and asks for the ball. As player 2 approaches the center cone, player 1 passes them the ball. Player 2 one-touches or two-touches the ball back to player 1 and returns back to their original position to repeat the exercise. After a certain amount of time, switch places.
Purpose: Soccer passing drills like this one are designed to improve first touch, ability to create space, lose marks, and improve communication.
Recommended equipment: 3 cones, 1 ball
Number of players required: 2 players
Set-up: Place two cones 15-20 meters apart and a third cone 5-10 meters from the second cone to form a straight line of three cones.
Exercise: In these soccer passing drills, player 2 starts at the furthest cone from player 1. Player 2 runs to the center cone and asks for the ball. As player 2 approaches the center cone, player 1 passes them the ball. Player 2 one-touches or two-touches the ball back to player 1 and returns back to their original position to repeat the exercise. After a certain amount of time, switch places.
Purpose: Soccer passing drills like this one are designed to improve first touch, ability to create space, lose marks, and improve communication.
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/1/5/131508884/published/soccer-snip-partner-pass.png?1587652319)
Short passing to longer passing
Recommended equipment: 1 ball
Number of players required: 2 players
Set-up: Players begin standing 5 meters apart.
Exercise: Players pass back and forth. Players (or coach) decide how they’d like to pass and receive the passes (one touch, two touches, right foot only, left foot only, etc.). Aim for clean passes and touches. Set a goal (10 without a mistake, 20 without a mistake, 100?) Each time you meet the goal, move back 10 meters.
Purpose: These soccer passing drills improve first touch, improve accuracy, and concentration.
Recommended equipment: 1 ball
Number of players required: 2 players
Set-up: Players begin standing 5 meters apart.
Exercise: Players pass back and forth. Players (or coach) decide how they’d like to pass and receive the passes (one touch, two touches, right foot only, left foot only, etc.). Aim for clean passes and touches. Set a goal (10 without a mistake, 20 without a mistake, 100?) Each time you meet the goal, move back 10 meters.
Purpose: These soccer passing drills improve first touch, improve accuracy, and concentration.
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/1/5/131508884/published/socceer-snip-gate-pass.png?1587652553)
Passing through gatesRecommended equipment: 1 ball, 14 or more cones
Number of players required: 2 players
Set-up: Set up a 20m x 20m playing space (placing a cone at each corner if desired). Within the playing space, set up 5-8 gates with cones 1m apart evenly scattered throughout the 20m space.
Exercise: During these soccer passing drills, players practice dribbling around the 20m space passing through the gates.
Purpose: Practice passing at angles; improve first touch, accuracy and concentration
Number of players required: 2 players
Set-up: Set up a 20m x 20m playing space (placing a cone at each corner if desired). Within the playing space, set up 5-8 gates with cones 1m apart evenly scattered throughout the 20m space.
Exercise: During these soccer passing drills, players practice dribbling around the 20m space passing through the gates.
Purpose: Practice passing at angles; improve first touch, accuracy and concentration