Why the weight of pass is so important
Watching matches in the Premiership - such as the recent Arsenal 6, Blackburn Rovers 2 game - it is interesting to see how balls of different weights set up chances. The hardest of these is a short pass between defenders for a player to run on to.

When the weight of pass is right the ball takes out defenders and stops the goalkeeper claiming it by being in the right place for the attacker to pounce. It is something to get your players practicing at home against a wall so they get used to hitting the right areas with the right weight whether it is a long or short pass.

Tell your players to try to pass with themselves while dribbling down the side of a wall. They should start around 5 or 6 feet away from the wall, pass the ball at an angle to the wall and recieve it back, take a few touches, then pass again… and so on. If they have a wall that is long they can run along it passing at an angle to run on to or if it is a short space pass back and forth.

If you haven’t got a wall use a piece of wood held in place with stakes. Put down three markers, one 5 yards one at 10 yards and one at 15 yards. Hit passes against the board that reach the three distances to help players get used to the weight of pass.

Passing and receiving
By Tony Carr

Practice passing and receiving regularly and your team’s attacking capability will be greatly enhanced. This session works on basic passing and the key is to ensure that players are controlling the ball to one side of their body using a single touch.

Receiving
Move into line with the ball.

Cushion the ball on impact to the side, but not too far. BREATHING IS IMPORTANT HERE. ALWAYS BLOW AIR OUT WHEN RECEIVING THE BALL TO INCREASE CONTROL.

Passing
Body over the ball, non-kicking foot alongside.

Inside of foot at right angle to the ball.

Follow through the ball's horizontal mid-line.

Correct weight of pass and direction so team mate can control easily.

To increase difficulty, encourage players to use their weaker foot only, or get them to receive with one foot and pass with the other. Increase the distance if necessary.

Players stand approximately 5 metres apart with two cones 1 metre apart in the middle, and pass to and from each other through them still using 2 touches.

To progress, Player ‘A’ passes through the cones. Player ‘B’ controls the ball with the outside of their foot, and returns it outside the 2 centre cones. Player ‘A’ then controls and repeats the drill. Switch so both players practice passing through the two middle cones.

Next, use the inside of the foot to control the ball across the body and pass through the gate in the same way as before.

Sequential Passing
Objective: Sequential passing exercises are a great training tool to teach players some important playing habits including decision making, speed of thought and 'vision'.

Age group: U10s upwards

Number of players: Whole team in groups of six or seven.

Equipment: Flat cones to mark a grid, four footballs per group.

Set up: Play in a 30x30 yard grid.

How to play:

Divide your players into groups of six or seven.

Each group plays in a separate grid.

Assign each player a number and tell them that:

No player is allowed to stand still.



No pass may be less than 5 yards.



The players must pass the ball sequentially, receiving the ball from the number before them and passing the ball to the number after them. For example, number 2 receives the ball from number 1 and passes the ball to number 3.
Let them play without any conditions for a few minutes.

Then up the pace by placing the following conditions:

Two-touch, one to receive it and one to pass it.

This encourages the players to:

Look where their next pass will be before they receive it



Prepare the ball in the direction the pass will go



Measure the weight and accuracy of the pass to their teammate.
One-touch passing

This will:

Further reinforce the need to look where they will pass the ball before they receive it



Put the onus on the next sequential player to call for the ball early and move into space early to help the passing player execute an effective pass



Put maximum emphasis on the speed of the pass knowing that the teammate also has only one touch.
Introduction of a second, third or fourth ball

This will force the players to pass the ball quickly as they do not want the two balls to arrive at a single player at the same time.

Start with players in groups of 2's with one ball per group. The players are 15 yards apart (distance would vary depending upon age). One player in each group starts with a ball in their hands



The ball gets thrown (using proper soccer technique) to the partner who must receive the ball and have it under control. The player then picks up the ball and does the same thing back.



This activity is working on throwing to feet and also receiving with the feet.

Next, the receiving player starts 30 yards away and checks to the ball. The ball is thrown to feet and the receiving player must receive the ball and keep possession



All of a sudden, this becomes much more difficult when the movement is added.

Next, do the same thing but now the receiving player must one touch the ball back to the thrower (who takes one step forward to enter the field of play)



This is a very easy activity to set up and do and if you do it for an extended period of time, the players will get very bored. My recommendation is to do it for a short period of time but do it frequently because too many possessions are lost because of players inability to receive a throw-in.

Dribbling and Turning



SET UP
Area – Cones are 20 yards apart. Add 4 sets of players on each cone. There are two soccer balls. Two teams work together. North to south, east to west.

* Players with the ball dribble to the center.
* They perform a turn, then another turn, then pass to their opposite team mate. They now follow their pass.
* Receiving player repeats this process.

FOCUS ON:
Close control. The quality, creativity of the turn. Passing.

VARIATION:
When a player performs their 1st turn, they pass the ball back. They then create an angle to receive the ball again. They then receive the pass and then pass to the opposite group.

Dribbling and Turning



Area – 60 x 40 with four 8 x 8 squares in each corner. Two teams. Each team attacks two squares, designated by the coach.

* Normal soccer rules apply.
* To score a player has to dribble in either of the two squares they are attacking.
* You can only enter a square if you have the soccer ball.
* Once a goal is scored, the scoring team attacks the opposite 2 squares.

FOCUS ON:
Attacking the boxes. Dribbling. Passing. Taking the 1 v 1. Communicating.

Stay in control with these simple turns
Teaching children how to play soccer is, metaphorically, a bit like teaching a person how to drive.

It's not difficult to show them how to use the gas pedal - kick the ball in front and run after it. Or even how to drive in traffic - keep the ball close. But you also need to teach your players how to use their brakes and steering - how to slow down and turn.

This is basic but important. Young soccer players who can use a variety of different turns will be better able to keep the ball and more willing to get their head up and pass, instead of running into the proverbial 'brick wall' of defenders.

Start with the easiest turns - the drag back and the inside hook.

The drag back
Get your players to stop or slow the ball by stepping on it with the sole of their foot. The ball might roll back as the player's momentum takes them slightly past it. The player should then pivot on one foot, turn quickly and run back the way they came, collecting the ball as they go.

The inside hook
As your players are running with the ball, tell them to cut their dominant foot hard across their body and the outside of the ball. They should then lean back and turn quickly to run in the opposite direction with the ball.

TIP: Don't try to teach both of these turns in one session. They might look simple, but to do them properly (and quickly) needs practice. Time spent embedding the skills will be well rewarded.

Once you've demonstrated these turns and your players have practised them on their own, play one of the following games.

For very young players (four- to six-year-olds), play Follow the leader:

Pair your players in a large grid with one ball between each pair. One player dribbles around the grid practising the drag back or inside hook turn. The other player follows as closely as they can. After a couple of minutes, swap the players.

For older players (seven- to ten-year-olds), play Cone Races:

Split your players into four teams with a ball each. Place each team at the corner of a 20 yards by 20 yards grid that has four cones in the middle. Space the cones out so they make a small square.

The first player in each team runs with the ball towards the centre cones. When they reach the cones, they perform a turn of their choice and run back to their team with the ball. The ball is passed to the next player in line who repeats the exercise. The first team to get every player back is the winner.

TIP: Ask your players to practice these turns at home and show you how much they've improved at the next training session.