Long Passing

Purpose:

The purpose of the session is to train players in the fundamentals of the long accurate pass. When looking to find a forward or playing a long ball across the field from the right fullback to the left full back a great deal of accuracy is required. This session will teach players the fundamentals of serving a low hard driven ball as well as a high bending pass such as a pass across a field or around a wall or defender.

Equipment:

Cones, pinnies, balls.

Progression:

Fundamental:
The fundamental stage is all about learning how to properly strike a long pass. There is no pressure from an opponent and limited pressure of space and time. Focus on the fundamentals emphasizing accuracy and distance.

Match Related:
In this phase pressure is added thru a defender however the teams still play numbers up against defenders giving the server ample time to hit the ball and gain confidence. As this phase advances add or take away players based on success.

Match Condition:
This phase incorporates long passing as part of the game with accuracy needed for finding and connecting teammates. Points are also awarded for long shots which in fact would be very similar to a long low hard driven ball; it must be low hard and accurate.

Coaching Points:

• Plant the planter foot to the side and parallel with the ball
• Get your weight over the ball
• Get a good backswing
• Lock the ankle
• Point the toe down
• Align the knee head and toe just in front as you strike the ball.
• Follow thru lifting the head.
  

• Plant the planter foot and transfer weight over the ball
• Begin the backswing similar to a low driven ball
• As contact is to be made, transfer weight back to lift the ball
• Swing thru from right to left striking with the inside of the right foot causing the ball to bend to the right.
  

• Know when to make a low hard driven pass vs. a high bending pass.
• Non-verbal cues for placement and timing of pass is very important
• Read the game and the players for timing and placement

Activity

Setup

Paired up Passing in a 60 x 70 (half field)

• Pairs work together while moving around striking balls about 25 yard balls or so.
• First low hard driven balls.
• Then high bending balls
  

Coaching Points:

• Plant the planter foot to the side and parallel with the ball
• Get your weight over the ball
• Get a good backswing
• Lock the ankle
• Point the toe down
• Head over the ball
  

• Lean back as boot strikes ball to curve it.
• Lead the runner with the pass, do no play behind the runner.
• Focus on fundamentals; ankle locked, weight forward

Soccer tennis in a 40x15
(with hard driven balls)

• 4 +K v 2 in small end grids (10x15)
• After three passes in small grid hit a low hard driven ball, or hit a high curving ball.
• Must play pass thru the other two defenders hanging out in the middle
• If ball goes to the other side then the middle defenders transition to defenders in the box and box defenders transition to middle
• If defenders win ball the team that loses the ball(blue) defends, two go to the end grid, two go to the middle grid.
  

Coaching Points:

• Can you place a ball across accurately?
• Can you hit a low hard ball across thru a seam?

Change to put Keepers in the middle which adds pressure, and makes more targets to pass around.

6 v 6 to goal in half field.

• Divide the field into thirds.
• If scored from behind all three cones = three points. (this is the low hard driven ball)
• Otherwise one point.
• Look for serves on high curving balls.
• Look for hard driven thru balls to players up top
  

Coaching Points:

• Look for the hard driven ball for three points
• Be aggressive
• Look to serve from corners middle of the field