Passing technique exercises

Intro

In modern soccer, passing technique is considered the key principle of the collective game. After a brief conceptual approach, we will present a series of exercises to work passing technique through contextualized plays.

In soccer,  the pass is part of the collective technique – the actions that can put together two or more players of the same team, in search of collective benefit.

Furthermore,  pass can be defined as the technical action that establishes a connection between two elements of the team through the ball transmission, in order to reach its destiny as fast as possible.

With passing, players can have different goals:

  • Reach, from a collective perspective, the center of the game on the opponent’s goal
  • Ensure the ball possession (withdraw from pressure)
  • Temporize the offensive play rhythm
  • Create a favorable situation for another team mate to score (assist)
  • Shift the game orientation

Passing can be classified according different criteria:

After this brief theoretical approach, we present you a series of exercises for passing, avoiding analytic work and making it contextualized:

  • Passing exercises
  • Ball possession exercises
  • Small games
  • Rondos

Exercise 1 – Standardized 6×0

Description:

  • Passing and scoring exercise
  • Making a collective combination with no opposition towards the opponent’s goal
  • Rotation always to the right
  • Always start 2 times from the right side, and 2 times from the left side.

Goal:

  • Variate passing technic – short/long, inside/outside
  • Scoring – rectify body position, foot position, surface in contact with the ball

Dimension:

  • Half field

Exercise 2 – Sectoral 7×3

Description:

  • In one of the sides we play 4×2
  • 4 passes and they can put the ball on the other side where is 3×1
  • The defenders alternate on the ball side with 2 and on the empty side with 1
  • The player who steals the ball or is playing for the longest time give way to another defender
  • When they make the transition, 1 of the offensive players switch sides too, preferably by proximity

Goal:

  • Ball possession
  • Reception, passing and mobility work 

Dimension:

  • 30x40m

Exercise 3 – Ball possession 8×4+2N

Description:

  • 8×4+2N
  • 4 try to recover the ball
  • 2 N play inside only with 1 touch
  • 8 offensive players with only 2 touches

Goal:

  • Ball possession
  • Play inside and outside
  • Reception, passing and mobility work 

Dimension:

  • 40x50m

Exercise 4 – Sectoral 4×4+4N

Description:

  • 1×1+1N per sector
  • N play only with one touch
  • Try to make 3 passes within a sector, and pass through all 4 sectors 

Goal:

  • Minimum of 3 passes in a sector – 1 point
  • Passing and mobility
  • Cover and contention
  • Cover the ball carrier
  • Defensive transition – cover up

Dimension:

  • 35x40m

Exercise 5 – Scoring 2×2+8N

Description:

  • 2×2 with scoring
  • 8N play outside the box, only with 1 touch and can’t play between them
  • Minimum of 4 passes to attack the goal

Goal:

  • Interior and exterior play – search for the best passing line
  • Passing and mobility
  • Cover and contention
  • Defensive transition – cover up

Dimension:

  • Penalty area

Exercise 6 – Small Game 6×6+4N

Description:

  • 6×6 with 2 N in each side lane. The N can’t go in the central lane
  • Every player must touch the ball first to score a goal – 1 point
  • For a recovery to be considered, they must do at least 2 passes after gaining the ball back – 1 point
  • N can’t play between them

Goal:

  • Passing and mobility
  • Play safely – offensive cover or lateral supporters
  • Attract and vary

Dimension:

  • Half field

Exercise 7 – 8×8 with 4 doors

Description:

  • 8×8 with 4 doors
  • Must do at least 1 pass in each sector to attack the goal
  • In offensive transition can attack the side doors

Goal:

  • Passing and mobility
  • Play safely – offensive cover or lateral supporters
  • Attract and vary

Dimension:

  • Half field