One of the most difficult things for any coach is transferring training exercises to the actual run of play. Unless your intent is to work on conditioning, what you teach your players has to matter in the game.
No one who has tried to coach soccer would fall for the line that it’s basically a simple game with a few elements. It’s not, and it can easily become as complicated as the volumes of play books and information associated with gridiron football.
So how does a coach do their job?
Former US National Team assistant Glenn Myernick used to say that the keys were realism and attention to detail. Realism makes sure that what you’re demonstrating has value in game situations. Attention to detail makes sure your drills stay focused.
Both of these are crucial to any drill, but today we’re turning them towards passing.
Most passing drills are simple. Divide off a section of the field and have two or more players pass and receive. Anywhere between 10 and 20 yards between players is fine. Anything longer starts to get unrealistic, especially for younger players. As basic as this is, you should be encouraging focus and attention to technique. Make sure that your players are pushing the ball to either their right or left to set up their next pass, rather than just a straight trap in front of them. This is called a prep touch. Too many players make the mistake of stopping the ball dead, forcing another touch to be used just to be able to make their next move.
You should also resist the urge to stop the exercise every time you see something you don’t like. And when you do stop the play, make a quick point or two and get out. Soccer is about flow, and starting and stopping — even in practice drills — takes away from that natural element of the game.
Some questions a coach should be asking: Are your players receiving the ball in a way where it’s a prep touch rather than a trap? Where is the passing player sending the ball? Is he/she playing the ball to the foot the receiving player wants it at? What would be the next move for the receiving player? Are players holding the ball too long? Are receiving players ready to play when the ball is played to them or are they caught flat-footed?
These are questions for players as well, but as the coach you should be looking for ways to make the drills better, addressing these questions through restrictions.
These drills should always be more than just the soccer equivalent of playing catch. Introducing more options for the passer, making runs off the pass, and moving players into space are all ways to enhance passing drills. A good way to do this with two lines of players facing each other is to have the passing player take four or five hard steps to his right to a cone placed diagonally from his line. This helps to reinforce movement after making a pass, which is so important in games.
Even just a simple restriction of having a player receive the ball on the left side of a cone before setting up his next pass on the right side of the cone is a good way to get your players to pay attention to detail. Having him/her play the ball with the left foot over to the right foot, as well as using both touches with the same foot is a good start. And don’t forget to then alternate so the players are spending equal time on both their strong and weaker foot.
Using a defender or two for every three of four players introduces a new angle, forcing the passer and receiver to alter their decisions on the ball. Simple 4 v 2 keep-away in a 10×5 grid is a good way to achieve this. Encourage communication, quick play, and movement off the ball.
Including goalkeepers in these drills adds to the realism. Not only does the keeper give your field players an escape route by moving the ball back, but it also allows the keeper the opportunity to receive passes from angles that he/she will see during games. Too many youth coaches limit their goalkeepers by not allowing them to be involved with the field players during such small-sided exercises. By doing this, it will improve his/her foot skills and add an element for your team out of the back.
For your field players, make sure to show a progression from the most basic passing drills to small-sided games so your players will see the proper passing lanes, make decisions under pressure, and develop trust for their teammates.
