EXPERT SESSIONS AND ADVICE FOR GRASSROOTS SOCCER COACHES
Keeping possession is the key to winning and these soccer passing drills will help your team achieve that. The best passing teams dictate the play, conserve energy, make the best of their resources and score more goals. Passing is about technique, judgement and vision.These passing drills give you some great advice on how to coach these attributes to your players. Long passing, short passing, side foot passing and crossing are all dealt with. We also have great passing games to really sharpen your players’ passing skills.
In this game there will be lots of touches of the ball and technique to get passes between players. Movement is also key to what happens in the session. Set up You need a ball and a 16×16-yard area. We’ve used nine players in the session. You will also need bibs and cones. How to... MORE
A lofted pass enables players to send the ball over longer distances. This can elevate your team’s chances of moving the ball into more attacking positions or clear from danger. MORE
Scoring goals is much easier if teams make better use of possession in the final third, where attacking prowess comes into play. MORE
If you want to see your players create more scoring opportunities in the penalty area, use this session to improve movement and creativity in the attacking third of the pitch MORE
The ability to increase the speed of an attack through rapid one-touch passing can leave opposing defences in a spin. Teach your players how to do it with this session. MORE
Creating shooting opportunities is the only realistic way to win matches. A pass from a midfielder to a forward is one of the best ways your team can do this – and here’s how to teach them. MORE
When your team attacks, a quick switch of play can be used to create space on the opposite side of the pitch. This can often lead to opportunities to dribble into space or attack the opponent in a 1v1 or 2v1 situation. Here is how you can teach your players these skills. MORE
Developing a calm and composed attitude when in possession of the ball will help your team. A great way to learn how to do this is with fun, small-sided games. MORE
When one side of the pitch is blocked by the opposition it is vital to “switch play” and move the attack to the opposite side of the field. A switch of play is used to create space to attack on the wings and may involve a 1v1 or 2v1 situation on that side of the pitch. MORE
in Ball Control and Footwork, Passing
Fast passing in tight spaces helps forwards move in and around the penalty area, where simple movement and passing is key to creating a route to goal MORE
It’s important to be able to pass the ball over long distances because it’s often the quickest way to exploit the space behind a defence, or the fastest method of switching the point of attack and so create space. MORE
Creative play in and around the final third needs players to see opportunities to get the ball through to attackers behind the defence. This session helps develop their passing vision MORE
The key rondos passes can be used in tactical play during matches to play between the lines with the key play splitting lines of defence to create goalscoring runs MORE
This warm up is ideal for training sessions about retaining possession and finding players in key positions. This concept is really important for teams that manage to have the lion’s share of possession in games yet find the opposition denying them space in the final third. MORE
By creating space before receiving a pass, a player will avoid immediate pressure, and so give themselves time to make good decisions with the ball and execute them. MORE
If players want to receive a pass, rather than standing around waiting for a team mate to play one in their direction, they have to create space for themselves – in tight spots that means shaking off close markers. MORE
This activity works on maintaining possession of the ball, but also on recognising the need to be progressive when your team has the ball. MORE
in Passing, Soccer drills and skills
Pass! is a great way to improve passing and receiving skills as well as the ability to spot and execute a through-pass. MORE
Assessing what’s happening on the pitch before receiving the ball will give your players the time to make the right decisions. MORE
A couple of sudden darting movements are all your players need to shake off a defender and create enough space to receive a pass. This session will help your players create chaos for the opposition. MORE
in Passing, Soccer drills and skills
A great drill for coaching short passing skills, keeping possession, defending and intercepting passes. MORE
Even when not in possession, good footballers play with their head up to be aware of what’s going on around them. This means when the ball comes their way they can make well-informed and quick decisions and are more likely to make good use of the ball. MORE
in Passing, Soccer drills and skills
Improve dribbling and passing skills by gathering balls from the middle and then nicking more from the other teams. MORE
Good footballers keep their heads up as much as possible – even when not in possession – to take constant “pictures” of what’s going on around them. This allows them to make good, quick decisions when the ball comes their way, and stay one step ahead of the opposition. MORE
