Tips and Techniques on Soccer Passing

The ability to master soccer passing ranks up there with oxygen as something a soccer player cannot do without.

A soccer player does not have to be an expert at all the different types of soccer passing, but he/she should be an expert in at least a couple of them. Think of players who can hit 50 yard passes (David Beckham, Michael Carrick) and players who can play deft little quick and deadly passes (David Silva, Luis Suarez).

Try and work on being able to pass into space behind their defense or playing a pass into the feet of your most advanced striker so that they can hold the ball or lay it off. Work on  passing the ball past a defender to an onrushing team mate. Try switching play by playing a ball across the field into space. Don’t be afraid of passing backwards if necessary to keep possession.

Practice soccer passing a straight ball to a diagonal running team mate. Then try soccer passing a diagonal ball to a straight running team mate. Play a pass short so that the receiver has to come to the ball and create space. Practice playing the pass long so that the receiver can turn and run into space to receive it. Practice passing to the feet of your team mate. Take it to the next level and practice passing to the correct foot of your team mate. Then practice passing into the space in front of your team mate for them to run onto.

I always suggest to my players that when they are passing the ball to a team mate, take the time and care to present that ball to them on a silver platter. Pass the ball in such a way as to give your team mate every opportunity to do whatever he/she wants with the ball. Have your team mate drooling at the pass you just played to them.

But remember, don’t just pass for the sake of it. Often players can play “safe” and play a simple pass, a square pass, a back pass when a much more dangerous pass was available. Again, this can be as a result of unfair criticism if the pass was unsuccessful. It’s a fine balance between playing the simple, safe pass and achieving nothing except for keeping possession and being creative, being daring, being exciting and attempting a pass that is from another planet and maybe as a result winning the game!

So learn when and where to play the safe pass and when and where to go for it. If in doubt, keep it safe, but if you see an opportunity to go for it, GO FOR IT!

Enjoy receiving the ball, enjoy passing to a team mate, enjoy being involved in the game. The more touches you have on the ball, the more passes you complete in a game, the more you will enjoy the game and the more opportunities will come your way.

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Types of Soccer Passing

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Side Foot Pass
The easiest and most used pass in soccer. Every player must know how to do this properly.

Lofted Pass
A lofted pass is a pass made through the air. The ball is knocked into the air over your opposition and into your team-mates.

One-Two Pass
A one-two pass is a quick pass to a team-mate, who then returns the ball to you with one touch as you run into space. Effective for beating defenders and catching your opponents off gaurd.

Through Ball
A through ball is a pass made into open space where a team-mate can run onto. great for beating defenders to create openings. 

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