Short Passing
Short passes are passes of less than 20 yards. A quality accurate short pass
is one with appropriate pace, to a teammates’ foot
that allows for possession to be maintained either by attacking or turning
away from pressure. To be successful in maintaining possession teams must be
skilled in the art of the short pass. By training players to make quick
short passes in successionthey will have the ability to move the ball
quickly around the field away from pressure.
Areas of Technical Skill:
Body position: Positioning the body for success.
- The body weight should be slightly forward leaning over the ball.
- The plant foot should be firmly planted with the toe pointing in the direction of the target.
- The striking leg should swing backwards in the backswing and the move forward thru the ball into the follow thru.
- The ankle should be locked as the ball is struck, the toe should be pointed up and the ball should hit firmly with the inside of the foot as the leg follows thru in the direction of the target.
- At younger ages there tends to be habits of striking balls with the toes (the “toe bash”) as it easily generates power. But this gives no accuracy so do not encourage this bad habit. The players tend to think that once the ball is struck there is no need to follow thru so this can be a major area of instruction and one which leads to quality results as it is an easy fix with great benefits.
Pace or weight of the ball: The speed and accuracy of the pass.
- Pace and weight are the texture of the pass.
- Your players need to know when to play a short gentle pass compared to a hard bending ball.
- Different situations call for different pace and weight. Within the training environment emphasize when to play an easier ball and when to play a well paced ball.
- The difference is dictated by the time and space around the players passing and receiving as well as the field conditions.
Accuracy
- As players advance in skill accuracy becomes more and more important. At first simply putting the ball near a teammate means success.
- As the players mature greater demands will be made of them in terms of accuracy. Balls will be expected to be delivered in the air, on the right foot or left, and with accuracy while being bent around a defender.
- Focus on simple accuracy first, progressing to more focused accuracy with success.
Focus should be on the technical skill of passing early in training and
possession will result later.
Long Passing
Long passing refers to passes over distances greater than twenty yards. Though
these passes can and will take place on the ground, often long passing takes
place by putting the ball into the air. Due to size and strength, players under
the age of ten often struggle with longer passing as they do not have the body
strength to get the ball in the air or to drive it far on the ground. However
it is important to introduce these concepts early so the players develop these
essential skills.
When passing long balls there are two ways to make a long pass in the air. The first is with a low hard driven ball and the second is a higher bending ball.
 Serving low hard driven balls.
1. Plant the planter foot to the side and parallel with the ball
2. Position your weight over the ball
3. Begin a good backswing
4. Lock the ankle
5. Point the toe down
6. Align the knee head and toe just in front as you strike the ball.
7. Follow thru lifting the head.
When serving a low hard driven ball with the right foot, the plant foot is the left and must be on the left side of the ball with the toe parallel to the ball. Teach your players to have their weight forward and head over the ball. The right leg needs to swing back; the greater the swing the hard the strike. As the leg swings forward the ankle must be locked, the knee needs to be over the ankle and the toe must pointed down as the laces strike the ball. Finish off with a follow thru and the ball with lift in the air driven a good distance. Practice will determine how hard to swing and establish pace and accuracy.
Serving high arcing bending balls: Right footed serves
1. Plant the left foot on the left side of the ball.
2. Body weight should be forward over the ball
3. As the backswing begins, move forward to align the head, knee and ankle over the ball.
4. The ankle should be locked (not loose).
5. The toe is not down as it is in the driven ball
6. As the swing continues strike the ball with the inside of the right just above the toe
7. Lean back slightly to gain loft on the ball.
8. Follow thru from right to left will cause the ball to curve in the air to the left.
When serving high arcing bending balls with the right, first plant the planter foot next to the ball and transfer weight over the ball. As the foot plans the backswing should begin. As contact is to be made with the instep, transfer weight back to lift the ball. Swing through from right to left striking with the inside of the right foot causing the ball to bend to the right.
Receiving
Receiving ground balls
First Touch and Two Touch Speed of Play
First touch refers to the first touch a player takes when the ball is received. If the touch is to heavy it will bounce away from the body, if it is to soft, it will get stuck under the body. First touch is the number one element leading to speed of play and speed of play is the key to successful possession at higher levels.
There are three standard ways in which a first touch can be taken followed by an immediate pass. These are listed in preferable options when attacking.
The touches described below refer to two touch receiving a passing. The first touch is the reception, the second touch is the pass. Whenever possible the players should learn to take a first touch forward to go forward in the attack (forward-forward). This is not always possible so a touch backwards away from the defender is advisable, followed by a forward pass (backward-forward). Finally, if going forward is not possible, take the touch away from the defense and then pass backward to maintain possession. (backward-backward)
Forward-forward: The first touch is forward leading to a forward pass or dribble. Examples of forward-forward touches are right foot touch, right footed pass: right-right. The same applies to the left foot. Left-left. The first touch is across the body into space with the left foot, followed by a second touch with the left foot.
- These forward-forward touches happen when the defense is off the ball and the player receiving has space to go forward. Additionally as the attacker looks forward he sees quality attacking options that will allow him to maintain possession of the ball.
Backward-forward: The first touch is backward, followed by a second touch forward. Examples of this would be a right footed touch backwards followed by a left footed pass forward: Right-left. The same applies the opposite direction. Left-right. This occurs when the defender is in front preventing a forward touch. As the ball approaches the hips turn to face backwards for the first touch, then immediately open up to face forward for the second touch.
- If a forward touch is not possible, due to a defender, the next best option is to take a backward touch to go forward with a second touch. When the player receiving is cut off by a defender from going forward a touch backward followed by opening the hips and attacking in a forward direction is the next best option. This will often occur when the defender marking the player receiving closes quickly but the rest of the defense is not behind the ball.
Backward-backward: The first touch is backward, followed by a backward second touch. Examples of this are outside of right foot receiving followed by a right footed pass backwards.
- If the first two options are not viable then the choice is to take a backward first touch to play a backward pass. When the defense is tight and the entire team is behind the ball going forward may not be an option. In this case taking a touch backward to pass backward will allow possession to be maintained and will be a good choice.
Speed of Play and Maintaining Possession
Finally to improve speed of play players should be trained to look before
receiving. By doing so and “taking a mental picture”of the field
they will know which of the three touches is required and thus be able to take
an accurate first touch.
Technical Skill in Receiving.
Therefore when training reception players need to be trained to:
Check to the ball: Attack the touch
- When receiving many players sit back and wait for the ball and watch the defender runs past taking the ball from their feet. The defender has as much right to the ball as the team in possession so sitting back and waiting for the ball is quite unacceptable as the opponent will easily step and win the ball. Train the players to attack the touch, not to wait for it!
Lock the ankle and point the toe upward
- Locking the ankle keeps the ball from bouncing in every direction; it gives a solid edge to receive with. By pointing the toe upward, the heel will be downward and the ball will be unable to slide underneath the foot. No ballerinas in soccer! (ballerinas run with their toes pointing at the ground when dancing)
Absorb moving balls such that the ball rebounds to a position slightly in front of the body
- To successfully keep possession the body must adjust to absorb the ball. As the ball is moving towards you to account for the pace of the ball and as the ball strikes the receiving foot, allow the foot to recoil a bit to absorb the energy of the moving ball. Do not absorb so much as to keep the ball under the body but just enough such that the ball ends up slightly in front of the body. This allows the player receiving to continue their forward run while at the same time allowing for the option of a quick pass. The touch should be outside of the shoulders for a quick two touch pass. When the ball gets stuck under the body it becomes an easy tackle for the defender as the body and the ball have both stopped moving making an easy target, so strive to make the first touch outside of the shoulder; it speeds up play.
Add a fake
- Before reception, add a fake to freeze the defender. This creates time and space to make a move or make a quality pass with less pressure.
Keep moving after reception
- The first key to successful reception is moving towards the pass but stopping the forward motion as the ball is received will just lead to the ball bounding away. Instead keep moving until and after possession is gained. Run through the pass to receive it, keeping the ball in front of the body and attacking the touch. This way possession will be maintained. Otherwise you and the ball will meet for a moment and then depart company.
Receiving flighted balls
Receiving flighted balls refers to the reception of balls out of the air. In most cases this occurs when a teammate plays a long pass to you, however it is not limited to long passing but simply anytime receiving a ball out of the air.
Balls are received in the air as much as one third of the time, so training in this skill is important. The team that controls the air controls the game. Reception can occur with any part of the body but the chest and foot are the most common with the thigh used quite often as well.
Receiving flighted balls is similar to receiving ground balls.
Check to the ball: Attack the touch
- Since the ball is in the air it will be slightly more difficult.
 Brazilian Note: The Brazilians are the best in the world at receiving air balls. When they receive they o almost always have one foot slightly off the ground taking a slight hop. As they land this absorbs the pressure and allows for a quick movement away from the defenders. Additionally, if being tackled hard, the body is off the ground, so there will be less chance for damage to the legs, knees and ankles as the body is not planted firmly on the ground.
Absorb moving balls: receive and keep the ball slightly in front of the body
- As the ball is arriving present the surface (foot, thigh, chest, head) you are receiving with in a manner such that the reception is as easy as possible. When using the chest, bend the knees, lean back and pop the ball up in the air such that the ball stays near the body. When receiving with the foot be sure to lock the ankle and prepare the leg for a hard driven ball. As the ball arrives instead of moving the foot forward which will knock the ball away, move it back a bit such that the ball is collected and remains on the foot. When using the thigh, be sure to open the leg so the thigh is facing the ball, lean back and let the ball fall into the thigh. The ball should naturally fall just in front of the body due to the make up of the thigh.
Keep moving after reception
Brazilian
Note:
The Brazilians say there are four ways of receiving the ball. Train the players
in receiving all four ways to master the art of receiving the pass.
The four ways to receive:
1.With the foot
2.Below the waist (thigh)
3.Above the waist (chest)
4.With the head
Receiving and Turning
Turning and receiving can be difficult with youth players because all they
want to do is turn and go at a defender when every time they receive
the ball. This is great, yet learning
to
possess
the
ball
is an area
of
importance
that
must be stressed. Training time needs to be dedicated to both aspects of play.
Teams need to spend time understanding the principles of play
and be able to play a game incorporating these principles as well as learning
how to receive and turn. It is a constant blend of the turning and
playing to possess that makes a quality team.
Receiving and turning takes place across the entire field. It may be a fullback
receiving from a keeper and turning to face the attacking space or a midfielder
receiving from the back and turning to face the forwards or the forwards receiving
and turning to face the goal. It happens across the field, yet it must be done
properly at the right time, otherwise turnovers will result..
Technical skill in Receiving and Turning:
- First check to the ball at a good pace moving up and thru the ball as it is received.
- Right before they receive turn to get a look to see what is behind them.
- At this point there are two options.
- If there is time and space, turn since there is no immediate
pressure.
- Turn quickly with the ball. To do this the ball is received with the inside or outside of the foot, but not stopped. As the ball is received with the inside of the right, the weight is on the left and the hips turn thru 180º and go the other direction with the ball glued to your foot.
- Knock it down, deal with it, turn.
- If a defender is marking tightly a quick turn is not possible. Either play the way you face or knock the ball down, deal with it. As the ball comes in, instead of trying to turn quickly, keep moving to the ball, get a touch to put space between you and the defender. Once the space is established use a turning move to turn and go at the defender
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