Passing drills build the weight, accuracy and timing of passes, but also the movement that creates a passing lane. Good passing practices always include receiving and body shape, not just striking the ball.
Start with unopposed patterns to groove technique, then add passive and active defenders so players learn when, where and why to pass.
11 exercises
Circuit
A Y-shaped passing pattern: pass into the striker, lay-off to a wide player, and a forward pass into the run of the first player — the third man.
IntermediateAnalyticalPassing
Circuit
Players pass around a diamond of cones and follow their pass to the next cone. A simple pattern to teach receiving on the back foot and playing on.
BeginnerAnalyticalPassing
Possession game
Four players on the sides of a 10 × 10 m square keep the ball away from one defender. The simplest rondo and the best introduction for young players.
BeginnerGlobalRondos
Positional game
Two teams of four keep the ball with the help of three neutral players — one at each end and one inside — creating a 7v4 for the team in possession.
IntermediateGlobalPossession
Circuit
A one-two with a wall player at the edge of the box, around a mannequin, followed by a first-time finish against a goalkeeper.
IntermediateIntermediateFinishing
Football-adapted game
Pairs move around an area full of small cone gates and score a point every time they pass through one. A warm-up with hundreds of passes.
BeginnerAnalyticalWarm-Up
Positional game
5v5 in three zones. Teams score by moving the ball from one end zone to a teammate in the opposite end zone — teaching when and how to switch play.
IntermediateGlobalPossession
Possession game
Two teams of four keep the ball together against a third team that presses for the whole round. The pressing team counts its recoveries; every team presses once.
IntermediateGlobalPossession
Possession game
6v6 keep-ball in two zones. Five passes in one zone followed by a switch to a teammate in the other zone scores a point; only four defenders may press in the ball zone.
IntermediateGlobalPossession
Possession game
5v5 keep-ball with two inside neutrals and a two-touch limit. Six passes score one point; a third-man combination through a neutral scores two.
AdvancedGlobalPossession
Football-adapted game
Two teams in their own half pass along the ground to knock down the opponents' cones while blocking shots at their own. Simple rules, lots of passes.
BeginnerIntermediateFun Games