By Nigel Reed

We all know that the push pass is the most used pass in soccer, but how can you get younger players to practice the push pass ina away that is competitive and keeps them amused.

Well I stumbled across this drill somewhere and tried it in last weeks session session that I had. This drill is best suited for younger players, and they seem to have loads of fun with it.

Divide your players into pairs and give each player in the pair a number ie either 1 or 2.

(Each pair should have a ball)

Get all the number 1’s in a line standing about 3 yards apart.

Have all the number 2 players opposite their partner and facing their partner.

(The distance between the 1’s and their 2 partner should be about 10 yards)

So the formation should like like this:

1 1 1 1 1

2 2 2 2 2

Now you get two other players, one at either end of the tunnel to pass a ball up and down the tunnel formed by the 1’s and 2’s

In my session I was at the end and I got another parent who can pass the ball accurately to be at the other end. The two players at either end have to be able to pass the ball accurately for about 20 yards.

As the ball is going through the tunnel, the players with the ball try to hit the ball with a pass.

If they hit the ball they get 3 points

If they miss the ball, but the ball goes to their partner they get 1 point

If they miss the ball and the ball goes wide of their partner into another pairs lane then they get 0 points

It is important that the players try and pass the ball to their partner in a way that the partner can receive the ball easily. ie the must pass the ball straight across the tunnel to their partner.

My under 9 team played this game for about 20 minutes and had a great time. It is a great way to improve accuracy and the weight of a pass, and the competitive nature makes it fun for players, so give it a go!

Before you get you players practising this drill, it is important to get them using the correct technique for a push pass. This may take some time, but and easy way to show kids the correct technique is get get keeling down and holding a ball. Then using a slow motion action, kick the ball using the push pass technique. that is using the inside of the foot. After the players have seen how to do this, get them to do it themselves under your supervision to make sure that they get the correct technique.

When doing this, it is important to make sure that their hands are not near the kicking area. I have used this tecnique a number of times, inclusing with my six year old son, and he now has a great kicking action and deadly accurate push pass.

About the Author: Nigel Reed has been involved in soccer during the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s as a player and has been coaching youth soccer in Australia since 2000. Nigels main soccer webite has detailed information on

Youth Soccer Formations

as well as a number of

Free Soccer Drills

Good luck with your coaching

Source:

isnare.com

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