Passing In Two’s

Simple passing in two’s back and forth, first two touch, then one touch where possible. Coach can dictate the distance between them.
Ask the players to look into “each other’s eyes” as they pass and NOT at the ball to see if they can keep possession between them.
This will be difficult at first but it helps to teach them to look up and not down at the ball. during games and hence helping their “Awareness” development as players..
They should be able to see their ball in the “peripheral vision”.
Using both feet to pass the ball.
Competitive: Count how many passes they can get in between them during a given time.

1st And 2nd Touches On The Ball In Teams Of Two

Ensure there is timing between the players in terms of the pass and the run to receive.

a) Two touch passing. Practice using both feet.

b) Side of foot passing getting a rhythm going one touch to control then a second touch to pass back. Then the passer is moving in to meet the ball and pass, and then out after passing the ball. Get a rhythm moving in and out, don’t stand still.

c) One touch side of foot passing, moving in to meet the ball, one touch pass and then back again. Weight and Accuracy MUST be good now to allow the team mate to pass back with one touch.

d) Decision Making: Player passing points their arm to one side the player receiving has to pass to the other side.

e) Two footed Control and Pass: Inside and Inside receive the ball with the inside of the right foot, move the ball first touch and inside and off line to yourself, then a second pass with the inside of the left foot. Do left foot first touch also.

f) One footed Control and Pass: Inside and outside of the foot passing using the same foot. Move the ball inside and off line with the inside of the right foot and pass with the outside of the right foot. Repeat with the left foot.

g) One footed Control and Pass: Outside and inside of the foot passing using the same foot. Move the ball outside and off line with the outside of the right foot and pass with the inside of the right foot. Repeat with the left foot.

h) Feinting and Receiving: Fake to kick the ball one way and go the other. Perform this action with the various moves discussed previously.

i) Receiving and controlling the ball: Three touches on the ball. First movement is forward to receive the pass, first touch on the ball is forward again, second touch is to the side, and then third touch is the forward pass back to the team mate.

j) Pointing: Introduce pointing again, passer points one way, receiver fakes that way and passes to themselves the other way then passes to their teammate.

k) Competition and Pressure. Count the number of passes in a given time and see which pair does the best. Look for a balance between control and speed of passing. Do this for all the different progressions as a finishing point for each one so they need to do it under pressure.

Place a cone in front of each player as a target object to play around. This also helps the player receiving the ball to judge their first touch and how far it needs to go across the field before they pass the ball forward again, with their second touch, to their teammate.
Player (1) pass the ball down the side of the cone to player (2) who must move the ball on their first touch to themselves and to the other side of it, then pass the ball back on their second touch. Player (1) then repeats the process.
Try to make the first touch to themselves a short, tight distance with the ball under control for the second touch which is the pass back down the other side of the cone. Keep this continuous rhythm going but you can dictate which part of the foot you can do this with as previously highlighted, inside to outside, outside to inside, inside to inside and transferring feet and so on.
Work the ball also from left to right so players practice moving the ball both ways not just one way.
Competitive: How many successful passes can the pairs of players make in a given time using the required techniques?

Now use the cone as a target to get in front of. As the ball is passed the player receiving must get in front of the cone to receive the pass, perform the movement required and pass back then move back behind the cone again.
This forces the player to move towards the ball as they receive it. This is an important movement because players often wait for the ball to come to them in a game and an opponent steps in front of them to steal it before it gets to them.
The movements are continuously back and forward, in front of the cone, receive the pass, move across with one touch, pass again with a second touch then behind the cone moving backwards and back across to receive again. Have the players develop a rhythm to this to get the best out of this practice.
Increase the distance between the players so they do not get too close to each other when both have moved in front of the cones to both pass the ball and receive the ball.
Competitive: How many successful passes can the pairs of players make in a given time using the required techniques?

Develop: As above have the players now make a first touch pass to themselves to the side then a diagonal second touch pass back across the field to their teammate.

Now have the players come in front of the cone to receive the pass as before forcing them to come and meet the pass. (1) Passes the ball from in front of the cone, then drops back, moves across to receive the diagonal pass back and move forward again to receive and so on.