Technical Tips
Simple passing & what to look for (beginners)
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This is a very simple passing drill that can be done with limited space and can really help you to focus on controlling a player’s movement, control and timing.
Step 1 Area - 30 x 10
Control & Pass
The ball starts at one end and is passed to the player in the middle who then turns and passes to the other end.
Even with something as simple as this you can watch out for:
- Communication - are they asking for the ball and is the passer calling to the player being passed to?
- Ready - is the centre player ready to receive the ball?
- Control – how are the players controlling the ball? Instep?
As the player’s progress, you may also want to look for the next stage or slightly more advanced moves:
- Awareness – ensure the player in the middle is looking over his/her shoulder before receiving the ball.
- Turn - can the receiving player receive the ball ‘on the half turn’ and open their body up?
- Ball speed – can the ball be controlled with one foot (instep) and passed in one movement with the other foot?
Don’t forget to keep changing the centre player with the outside players.
Step 2 Area -30 x 10
Movement & Timing
In step 2, we are now asking the centre player to do all of the above i.e. communication and control etc but now we want them to start central, look over their shoulder and move to the side to receive the ball.
You can look for:
- Timing – the ball should be passed only when the centre player makes a move and asks for it.
- Movement – is the movement to the side sharp and ‘alive’?
- Combination - does the movement, control, communication, timing and pass, all ‘fit in’?
Step 3 Area - 30 x 10
Close Down Pressure
In step 3, the progression should be that the centre player now puts all of the above into the practice but is now closed down by the opposite outside player. The move is started by the central player moving wide to receive the ball (as in step 2) and as the ball is travelling, the opposite outside player comes in to close down the central player.
Watch for:
- All of steps 1 and 2 being performed, especially the look over the shoulder
- Control - how does the central player control the ball? If on the half turn, will he/she be tackled? If so, shield the ball and keep body in the way
- How quickly is the ball under control and ready for its next move i.e. pass back, dribble or shot?
Summary
The above steps are guidelines that are designed to give ideas and be thought provoking to help in the development of young (beginner) football or Soccer players. There are further progressions and more detail to be added but we think this should be added by you and progressed as you see fit or that is specific to your group or standard of players.
Good luck!