Passing

"You play football with your head, and your legs are there to help you" - Johan Cruyff

Passing - Key Points & Considerations

We've collated some of the key coaching points and things you may want to consider when setting up sessions based around passing. Remember - getting all the coaching points across in one session is impossible - these are meant as a source of ideas that you can introduce slowly and layer on as the players' understanding and ability level increases over time.

More Info >

Passing Warm Up

This passing warm up starts simple, for younger / less experienced players but can be expanded upon to include a wide range of coaching points around link up play, providing an angle for a pass, different types of pass (short and long range), communication and movement off the ball. By adding defenders we create pressure for the players and make the practice more game-relevant. 

View Practice >

Pass and Move Grid

This is a grid practice that focuses on movement off the ball, different types of pass, communication and linking up with other players in a way that mirrors what they might experience in a match. It makes for a great warm up at the start of a session based around any passing topic, switching play etc.

View Practice >

Passing Circle Warm Up

This circle practice gets your players receiving the ball on the back foot to play forward, creating angles for a passing option, moving off the ball, communicating and practicing a range of passing techniques. It can be advanced by adding in cues and triggers for players to swap roles and defenders to provide some opposition and increase the challenge.

View Practice >

Pass and Move Square 1

This square practice is great as it can be made really really simple for younger or less able players, with a whole host of extra complexities added in once your players can handle it (see Pass and Move Square 2, below for a more advanced version).

View Practice >

Pass and Move Square 2

This is a progression to the Pass and Move Square practice above, introducing one or more central players to give the players more mental challenge, more realism in terms of angles and movement and a greater technical challenge in terms of passing and moving on the go. This is an exercise for older or more advanced players.

View Practice >

4v4v4 Pass and Defend

This session focuses on both long and short range passing, as well as the concept of moving the ball around until a space opens up to allow you to play a forward pass. With 3 teams, it's competitive and can be scored in various different ways. Communication, playing with your head up, passing technique,  weight of pass and first touch are all tested in this exercise, that makes a great warm up or technical practice for a session on passing, whilst also giving the middle team something to think about defnesively in terms of their shape and organisation.

View Practice >