U12
Y Pattern With Lay-Off and Through Ball
Combine through the Y shape with a lay-off and finish the pattern with a through ball.
- Lay the ball off into the runner's path
- Check your shoulder before the through ball
Football Drills & Trainingby Play 2 Earn Sports
Football passing drills:281 to run at training
Watch a passing drill in 3D, slow it down for your team, then run it.
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Drag a player, then press play. These are sample names: sign in and your real roster imports automatically. Try your own names, numbers and kit.
Passing drills for every stage, from U6 pairs learning to stop the ball to U18 groups moving it quickly under pressure. Here are a few to look at. The app has all 281, each one playing in 3D with its full set-up and steps.
8 of 281
U12
U10
One-Two Around the Mannequin
Play a one-two around a mannequin and pass forward to the far end.
- Set the ball slightly behind for the return pass
- Sprint around the mannequin, not through it
U8
Zigzag Wall Race
Bounce one ball back and forth across the channel from cone to cone as fast as your two lines can, beating your last time.
- Aim for the front foot of the child opposite, about ten steps across, with the inside of your foot
- Bounce the first wall pass back without stopping it, so your two lines get a fast start
U12
Split the Defenders and Set Back
Play a pass between two defenders to a middle player who sets it back.
- Pass through the gap between the defenders
- The middle player sets back with one touch
U10
Receive Across the Body and Play Forward
Receive across the body inside a triangle and play the ball forward with the next touch.
- Open your hips before the pass arrives
- First touch across the body, away from pressure
U10
Shoot After a Lay-Off
Shoot after receiving a lay-off from a central player.
- Lay the ball into the shooter's path
- Shoot on the first touch
U8
Rondo 3v1 in 10x10
Keep possession in a small 3v1 rondo.
- Two touches maximum
- Move after you pass
U12
Give-and-Go From the Flag
Beat the first defender at the flag by bouncing the ball off a teammate, then pick out the nine arriving at the penalty spot.
- Taker sprints round the defender's blind side as soon as the ball leaves the flag
- Return goes in front of the taker, on the far side from the defender who stepped out
273 more passing drills are in the app, each playing in 3D with the full set-up and steps.
See all 281 passing drills in the appChoosing a passing drill by age
U6 and U8
Plenty of touches and very few rules. One ball between two, short distances and a target to aim at, such as a cone gate.
U10 and U12
Add movement. Players pass and move, check away before receiving and start to play with a two-touch limit.
U14 and up
Add direction and pressure. Quicker passing, first-time options, and a defender or a goal to play towards.
What to watch for at training
The first touch
A clean first touch sets up the next pass. If passes keep breaking down, shorten the distance before you change the drill.
The pass after the pass
Check that players move once the ball has gone. Standing still is a common reason a passing drill stalls.
Both feet
Ask for the weaker foot on some rounds. Most of these drills work the same way with either foot.
Questions
How long should a passing drill run?
Most passing drills in the library run for 8 to 16 minutes. Stop sooner if the quality drops, and swap roles so that every player gets the same work.
How many players do I need?
Most need 4 to 12 players. The app lists the players, the area and the cones for each drill.
Can I run these with one coach?
Yes. The app's steps are written so that a single coach can set up the drill and run it, and players can take turns in each role.
See all 281 passing drills in the app
Coming soon to iPhone and Android.
Get early access