Youth Soccer Passing Drills

Teach passing to youth soccer players by using competitive drills. Model the skill before running the drill. “It is important for children to learn proper passing skills when they are young before they move on to a point where are learning the strategies of the game,” says Karen Duby, the U8 coordinator for the Worcester Youth Soccer League in Massachusetts.

Academy Style

The WYSL runs academy-style practices for its three youngest divisions. Each division practices once a week with all the teams at one site. "This program is specifically designed to promote individual player development," notes the league's website.

The league uses practice plans from Mass Youth Soccer.

Technique

It is important to understand the mechanics of passing before teaching them to players. It is a good idea to model the skill before the drill.

For short-distance passes, point the toe of the kicking foot sideways. Lock the ankle. Strike the middle of the ball with knees bent. Follow through low with the kicking foot.

Approach the ball from a slight angle for a low driving pass. Put the non-kicking foot beside the ball, pointing toward the target. Drive the kicking foot diagonally through the ball. Kick with the inside of instep or where the cleats laces are located. Keep the knee and body are over the ball and follow through low with the kicking foot.

For a loft pass, approach the ball from a slight angle. Place the non-kicking foot beside but toward the back of the ball, pointing toward the target. Drive the kicking foot diagonally through the underside of the ball using the upper instep above the big toe. Lean back slightly at the moment of contact to help get the ball in the air. Follow through towards target.

Gates Passing

Young players generally enjoy the competitive nature of this drill, which is easy to run.

Set up six sets of goals using two small cones placed approximately 1 yard apart. Put one player behind each of the goals, which are 3 yards apart.

Give each pair one ball. Players must pass the ball back and forth through the gates with their right foot to earn a point. Run the drill for two to three minutes and the team with the most points wins.

Switch things up by doing the drill with the children passing with their left feet and then the inside and outside of each foot. Move the goals slightly apart as players master the skill.

Three-on-One Keep Away

Set up four players in a small grid area play with three players on offense and one on defense. The three offensive players attempt to keep the ball away from the defender. When the defender steals the ball, the offensive player who lost the ball becomes the defender. Take the time to point out when to make a long pass versus a short one.

Passing in Pairs

Set up the players in two lines about 10 to 15 yards apart. Have the first players in each line pass to each other and move up the field using inside, outside and laces/instep passing. Increase the distance between the two players to 20 to 30 yards and focus on laces/instep passing.