How Can You Improve Your Childs Passing In Football?

Did you know youth grassroots football teams help young players develop skills essential for their football careers? These teams lay the groundwork for the sport. They offer effective drills that boost skills and fuel a passion for football.

In this article, I’ll share from my experience with 10 essential passing drills great for youth grassroots football teams and players to help them improve.

Incorporating these drills and exercises in your training routine will help improve passing, ball handling, decision-making, teamwork, and on-field performance. The drills below are useful for coaches, parents, and players aiming to enhance their abilities.

• 1 – Zig Zag Passing against the Clock
• 2 – Diagonal & Sideways – Follow the Pass
• 3 – Pass & Move Square
• 4 – Long Pass, Short Pass, Switch
• 5 – Beat the Clock
• 6 – The Rondo
• 7 – Double Rondo – Head to Head
• 8 – Through the Gates
• 9 – One Two Race
• 10 – Splitting the Defence

Key Takeaways:

• Youth grassroots football is key to developing young players’ skills.
• The 10 essential drills aim to better passing accuracy, ball control, decision-making, teamwork, and overall performance.
• Coaches, parents, and players of all levels can use these drills.
• These drills are fun, simple to set up, and help players love the game more while improving their skills.
• Incorporating these drills in training can build a strong foundation for success in youth grassroots football teams.

1. Zig Zag Passing against the Clock

Let me introduce a drill called Zig Zag Passing against the Clock. It’s designed to better your passing skills, ball control, body positioning, and decision-making.

This drill is a fun and challenging way to get better at passing and moving quickly.

The drill requires players to pass the ball in a line and back within a time limit. The aim is to do the passing sequence as quickly and accurately as you can. It’s not just about passing but also about controlling the ball and positioning your body correctly.

Players start in two lines facing each other, each line having the same number of players. The first player in one line kicks off with the ball. They pass it diagonally to the first player in the opposite line. Then, players pass the ball back and forth in a zig zag pattern. They try to reach the end of the line and back in a set time by the coach.

Drill Modification

You can also edit this drill to include dribbling training. Instead of the ball being passed back along the line once the zig zag is complete, have the last player dribble with the ball back to the beginning cone and start again.

You could have multiple balls going to keep the kids engaged and active at all times.

Both of these adaptions to the zig zag passing drill make you think and act fast as you must adjust your body to receive and pass the ball correctly. It also boosts team communication and vison. Players must work together in time to finish the drill successfully.

The coach can change the time based on the players’ skills. For new players, a longer time helps them learn and gain confidence. For more skilled players, a shorter time makes the drill harder and more exciting.

Adding rewards for hitting the time targets makes the drill even more fun and motivating. It could be a small contest and the goal is the team hitting the coaches set time.

Summary

The Zig Zag Passing against the Clock drill is great for improving your game. It works on your passing skills, ball control, body positioning, and fast thinking. It’s a challenging and enjoyable way to get better at passing and speed, making you a stronger player overall.

2. Diagonal & Sideways – Follow the Pass

One of my personal top picks for football warm-up drills is the Diagonal & Sideways, Follow the Pass drill. It prepares players for the game ahead. It also sharpens their skills in diagonal and sideways passing. Plus, it boosts their communication, body awareness, and quick thinking.

The Diagonal & Sideways – Follow the Pass drill is both simple and effective. Let’s look at how it works:

1. Create a square-shaped area using cones or markers. Its size depends on the number of players and space you have.
2. Split the players, Have an half the players start inside the square and the others outside, diagonally opposite.
3. The outside player passes the ball diagonally to a team mate inside the square.
4. After passing, the outside player moves quickly to take up a new position inside the square.
5. The inside player who then has the ball then passes the ball either diagonally or sideways to a free player outside of the boxed area and then takes up their new position outside of the box.
6. This continue with players following their pass and swapping positions.
7. They should call out for the ball and signal their position before passing.

This drill doesn’t just polish their passing. It also aids in maintaining proper body stance and making rapid decisions with the ball. The constant motion and teamwork mimic real game situations, which helps in developing realistic playing skills. Plus, it fosters teamwork and coordination between team mates.

This drill can also be easily tailored for different levels of skill to help boost speed and coordination. Beginners can focus on mastering the basics of passing and positioning.

Drill Modification

More skilled players can add extra challenges, like facing a defender, to heighten the pressure.

If you’re seeking a vibrant warm-up drill that covers several key skills, try out the Diagonal & Sideways – Follow the Pass drill. Your team will not only find it thrilling but will also see great improvements in their passing capabilities especially under pressure in a game situation.

Benefits of the Diagonal & Sideways – Follow the Pass Drill:

• Improves diagonal passing and sideways passing
• Develops communication skills
• Enhances body position awareness
• Sharpens quick decision-making abilities
• Simulates game-like situations
• Promotes teamwork and coordination
• Can be adapted for different skill levels
• Increases speed and coordination

Include the Diagonal & Sideways – Follow the Pass drill in your football practice sessions. Watch as your players grow better at passing and communicating. They’ll learn to position themselves effectively and make swift decisions. Encourage them and give helpful feedback during the drill. With regular practice, they’ll master executing diagonal and sideways passes with great precision.

3. Pass & Move Square

In this drill you can dive into the key fundamental skill of “pass and move”. It helps create space by movement on the football pitch. This training exercise is perfect for boosting players’ space-finding and chance-creating skills.

How does it work? Players make a square using cones, standing at each corner. Player A kicks off by passing to player B, then moves to a new spot. After getting the ball, player B sends it to player C and swaps places too. This swapping and passing goes on, involving everyone.

This drill is about expecting teammate moves, talking well, and drawing defenders away. It’s dynamic, keeping players ready for real match surprises.

Drill Modification

Add a defender to make things harder. Allow the players to pass to any space in which a team mate is free and ready to receive the ball. All players must continue to move to a free space once they have passed the ball. This tests players to be sharper and pass better under stress.

Benefits of the pass and move square drill:

• Boosts off-the-ball running: Constant movement teaches players to find space, helping the attack.
• Builds communication skills: Players learn to coordinate through talk and gestures, aiming for perfect passes.
• Strengthens teamwork: This exercise needs players to work as one, keeping the ball and eyeing for goals. It helps them to gel and know each other’s style.
• Improves quick thinking: Players must think fast about moving, passing, and catching the ball. It sharpens game reading and decision-making.
• Better space awareness: The drill teaches players about using the field’s space well. It helps in spotting and using the opposition’s weak points.

In this drill, fast pace, smart passing, and seeking space are crucial. Always aim for quick and smooth passes to explore new positions.

4. Long Pass, Short Pass, Switch

If you are looking to get your team ready and boost their passing ability? a great training drill option is the Long Pass, Short Pass, Switch drill.

This warm-up is perfect for mastering long and short passes, along with switching the play smoothly. It works well to improve ball handling, decision-making, and teamwork.

This drill is ideal for all players, no matter their skill level. You can tweak the intensity and speed to fit your team. As your players get the hang of it, up the tempo to keep them on their toes.

Players split into groups, standing 15-20 meters apart for this drill. They then work on linking long and short passes, shifting the game across the field. It’s crucial they talk and move to keep the game flowing and find chances to pass.

Switching play not only works on passing distance and accuracy but it also works on ball control as players must watch the flight of the pass and adjust their bodies to take control before playing another pass.

This choice of making a different length of passes set by the coned area boosts decision-making, based on where teammates and rivals are.

Remember to stress good passing techniques. Tell players to use the inside of their foot for sharp short passes and their laces for longer, stronger ones. Keeping balanced and steady helps ensure the passes are spot-on.

Tips for a successful Long Pass, Short Pass, Switch warm-up drill:

• Encourage constant movement and positioning for passing options
• Emphasize the need for good communication between players
• Remind players to use proper technique for long and short passes
• Gradually increase the tempo and intensity as players become more comfortable

As your team gets older and the pitch gets bigger I would always suggest adding the Long Pass, Short Pass, Switch drill part of your warm-up to boost your team’s passing, ball control, decision-making, and teamwork. It’s a great start to your training and paves the way for success on the pitch.

5. Beat the Clock

If your looking for a way to make your training more exciting? Try the “Beat the Clock” passing drill. It’s a fun game that tests players’ speed, fitness, and motivation.

Players form a circle for this drill. The aim is to complete laps faster than the coach can pass and receive the ball back from the rest of the team, It’s a thrilling race against the clock and coach.

This brilliant fun training drill boosts speed and fitness while promoting teamwork. It encourages players to do their best to outpace the coach. The competitive edge makes training exciting.

Make it more interesting by rewarding those who beat the clock. Such rewards spur players on, making them work harder.

6. The Rondo

The rondo passing drill is a go to drill for most grassroots and elite teams. Its key for training in ball control, making fast choices, and being precise with passes.

Football teams use this drill a lot and rightly so as It helps improve the players’ technical abilities and understanding of the game.

In a rondo, players stand in a circle. One player goes into the middle. The outer players must keep the ball away from the middle player. The one in the middle tries to get the ball by intercepting the passes. This drill teaches how to pass accurately, be aware of space, and talk effectively.

The rondo drill gives players several advantages:

• Ball retention: The drill makes players pass quickly and accurately in a tight space. It helps them keep the ball even when it’s difficult.
• Decision-making: Outer players must decide fast where and when to pass. This drill makes their decision-making better on the pitch.
• Passing accuracy: With little time and space, players must pass precisely. The drill works on improving their passing skills.

Coaches can change the rondo drill to fit their team’s needs and the level of challenge they want. They can adjust the circle’s size, limit touch per player, or use specific passing patterns to challenge the players more.

The rondo drill is great for developing skills, teamwork, and understanding the game. Teams at all levels use it to better their players in a fun and active way.

Drill Modification

There are different ways to do the rondo drill, each with special goals. Two popular ones are:

1. High Intensity Rondo: Here, outer players pass faster and with more energy. It improves their speed passing, quick reactions, and decision-making under pressure.
2. Wide Rondo: This version uses a bigger area, giving players more room. It helps them make longer passes and improves their vision and awareness.
3. Extra Defender Rondo: Adding an extra defending player means the options for the next pass are limited. This helps players make better decisions under pressure.

The rondo passing drill is a flexible and helpful practice that aids players of every age and skill level. By adding this drill into training, coaches can boost their teams’ ability to keep the ball, make decisions, and pass accurately which ultimately leads to better performance on the field.

7. Double Rondo – Head to Head

In this variation of the rondo passing drill, two teams face each other. They compete in an exciting head-to-head match. The goal is for players to capture the ball from the opponent’s marked area in a competitive keep ball drill.

This exercise challenges the players. It tests their passing accuracy and their ability to make quick decisions under pressure. The drill pushes players to excel in a competitive environment.

when I’ve used the double rondo drill in the past it has helped to improve possession skills during intense competition. It uses a fast-paced environment and helps my teams players to think quickly and pass precisely.

Players are split into two teams, with each forming a circle or as demonstrated in the below video two squares. They work together to keep the ball from their opponents and should they lose possession they work together to win the ball back.

Accurate passing is vital in this drill. Every pass helps in maintaining possession and stopping the other team from taking control.

The drill also tests decision-making. Players must quickly find the best option for passing. This helps in developing fast and effective decision skills used in real matches.

The sense of excitement and urgency in this drill motivates players. They are driven to perform their best and aim for victory. It mimics the high competition seen in actual games, preparing players for the in play challenging moments.

Drill Modification

You can make the drill more interesting by setting time limits or adding goals which can be scored in after a certain number of successful passes. This ensures that players continually challenge themselves, aiming for high passing accuracy and better decisions.

You will see that the competition element really drives the drill, tapping into the players’ will to win. The head-to-head nature of the drill enhances their competitive spirit. It also strengthens teamwork within the group.

Benefits of Double Rondo – Head to Head:

• Improves passing accuracy
• Enhances decision-making skills under pressure
• Fosters a sense of healthy competition
• Simulates real game scenarios
• Promotes quick thinking and effective communication

The double rondo – head to head drill is a go to for coaches aiming to train young footballers. It elevates their passing, decision-making, and competitive spirit. This drill is a perfect blend of fun and challenge, gearing up players for competitive play.

8. Through the Gates

This is a go to drill focuses on improving players’ passing accuracy and ball control all in one. It encourages players to skilfully move the ball through various gates to earn points. The exercise can also introduce shooting techniques and adds defenders to increase pressure which mirrors real-match situations. What’s great is it can be adjusted for any skill level, making it perfect for everyone.

To begin, set up a playing field scattered with gates. These gates, formed from cones or poles, must be just sizeable enough for a ball to fit through. By positioning defenders around, players are pushed to sharpen their passing accuracy and control.

Follow this guide for the “Through the Gates” drill:

1. Split players into two groups – attackers and defenders, taking turns in each role.
2. The attackers aim to pass the ball through as many gates as they can within a set time.
3. Defenders try to stop the attackers from passing through the gates and from scoring.
4. Attackers need to pass with precision and control to move the ball through the gates. They must also communicate well with teammates to find passing opportunities.
5. Defenders use their positions and body control to block passes and intercept the ball.
6. Every successful pass through a gate gets the attackers a point. Defenders earn points by intercepting the ball or preventing the attackers from scoring.
7. Teams switch roles after a certain time to ensure everyone gets to practise equally.
8. Keeping score and rewarding the winning team promotes competition and teamwork.

By doing this drill, players not only improve their passing and control but also get better at making decisions, shooting, and scoring under pressure. By mimicking actual game situations, it fosters a range of crucial skills in an engaging way.

The ‘Through the Gates’ drill challenges players to enhance their passing accuracy, control, and shooting. It’s an excellent way for players to develop key abilities that can lead to more goal scoring opportunities in real games.

9. One Two Race

This unique training drill and exercise is focused on teamwork, speed, coordination, and precise passing. It will boost players’ abilities and can add competition and thrill to training.

The drill has teams line up at a starting point. They have to make quick passes as they race towards the end cone. The fastest team wins. This setup is simple yet highly effective.

This drill greatly enhances speed through fast-paced one-two passes. It encourages players to sprint quicker. The competitive aspect also urges them to push harder, improving their overall agility.

It importantly boosts coordination among players. Performing smooth one-two passes needs good communication and teamwork. Success relies on perfect timing and knowing where teammates are positioned.

The drill also sharpens passing accuracy. Players must be precise with their passes, even under race pressure. This practice improves their skill in accurate passing during important game moments.

Drill Modification

To make it more challenging, add variations to the One Two Race. You could include obstacles like cones or small hurdles. Or adjust the passing distances for varied training focuses. This adds complexity and fun.

I’ve always found the ‘One Two Race’ to be a dynamic passing drill which benefits players’ speed, coordination, and accuracy. Pick your teams, set up your course, and enjoy the drill!

10. Splitting the Defence

This passing drill will help improve teamwork, movement, and scoring skills. It makes players better at splitting the defence, hence the drill name, through passing vision and accuracy, and players must work together smartly and effectively to complete it..

The drill divides the pitch into three parts for two teams. The goal is to pass the ball through the defence. The drill requires teams to have good movement and strong communication.

Through this drill, players get better at positioning and creating chances to score. Their communication on the pitch also improves. This helps in teamwork. The drill works for all ages and levels.

FAQ

What does the Zig Zag Passing against the Clock drill focus on?

The Zig Zag Passing drill helps with ball control, getting in the right position, and making quick choices. It’s a timed drill to improve passing skills for all levels.

What skills does the Diagonal & Sideways – Follow the Pass drill improve?

This drill boosts diagonal and sideways passing. It enhances communication, positioning, and quick thinking. Also, it raises speed and coordination levels.

What is the Pass & Move Square drill designed to enhance?

The Pass & Move Square drill works on movement and space creation. It involves passing and quickly changing position. Adding a defender increases its challenge.

What aspects of the game does the Long Pass, Short Pass, Switch drill target?

This drill focuses on long and short passes and switching play. It builds ball control, teamwork, and decision-making. Players can adjust it as they improve.

What does the Beat the Clock passing drill aim to improve?

Beat the Clock is a fun drill that boosts speed, fitness, and eagerness. It involves racing against the coach’s lap, with rewards for performance.

What is the focus of the Rondo passing drill?

The rondo drill focuses on keeping the ball, making swift decisions, and passing accurately. It’s a group activity that can be made more challenging.

How does the Double Rondo – Head to Head passing drill add variety to the traditional rondo?

The Double Rondo drill makes two teams compete in passing. It adds a competitive twist, testing passing accuracy and quick thinking.

What are the main components of the Through the Gates passing drill?

The Through the Gates drill emphasises precise passing. Players earn points by passing through gates. It includes shooting and defensive pressure, adaptable for all levels.

How does the One Two Race passing drill help players improve their skills?

The One Two Race drill is a speed and accuracy challenge. Players pass quickly and race to finish, improving coordination. It offers varied challenges.

What are the key aspects of the Splitting the Defence passing drill?

The Splitting the Defence drill aims at breaking through defence with good movement and teamwork. It increases passing skills and can be tailored for different groups.