WEEK TWO – STONEHAM SC U6 PROGRAM
Lecture: Passing
With this being the second day, hopefully the players will be more comfortable within their team setting and with the
program format. A quick review of the 4 key points of last week’s dribbling session should get the players into a soccer
mindset (Dribbling Review = 1. Keep the ball close 2. Keep your head up 3. Knees bent 4. Arms out)
4 KEY POINTS OF PASSING
1. 90% of all passes should be with the inside of the foot (where the “Nike Swoosh” is – the center)
2. Plant foot goes next to the ball 4” to 6” away– parallel (not behind or in front of the ball – right next to the ball)
3. Plant foot points towards the target “aim towards target” – It’s the mouse to the computer
4. Swing through the ball like a GOLF CLUB – Don’t stop on contact, follow through towards the target
WHAT A GOOD PASS LOOKS LIKE
• Firm – able to reach teammate quickly. A pass that is too slow and leaves the receiver under pressure is termed a
“hospital pass”
• On the ground – the ball should roll, bouncing passes or passes in the air are very hard to control
• Right to the intended target, try to make the pass so accurate that the partner doesn’t need to move to receive it
HOW TO RECEIVE A PASS
• Stay on the balls of your feet (front portion of the foot – not on your heels) – tell the players to pretend they are
“squashing grapes” with their feet or that they are a boxer – “Happy Feet”
• Keep ball in front of you with your 1st touch
• Cushion the ball when it comes to your foot (imagine catching a bowling bowl w/ a pillow)
• First touch sets up the pass and is therefore critical
Start – 5 Min
5 Min – 7.5 Min
7.5 Min – 20 Min
20 Min – 27 Min
Lecture on Passing
Chain Tag
Passing Progression
Gate Passing Progression
Chain Tag
Fun quick 3-5 minute warm-up game. Game is also known as blob tag. Pick a few players to be “it” and make a small
field. If you are tagged, you hold hands and join a chain. Go until there is only one player left (not in a chain). Great
game to get the kids smiling, engaged, and interacting … should lead them into soccer!
Youtube example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hScwsTj1vlY
Passing Progression
Organization: Partner and a ball
Equipment: Balls
Time: 12-15 minutes
Space: Partners are 10-15 feet apart. Organize the pairs in a line, so that they understand the correct distance
Description: Spend 2.5 minutes on each combination – 60 seconds of “warm-up practice,” a 20 second break, and then 60
seconds of “competition” where each pair tries to see how many passes they can make (MUST FOLLOW THE RULES
OF THE COMBINATION)
For Stoneham SC viewing persons only. Content and information is the exclusive property of PROformance Soccer Academy. Page 1 Partners pass and receive in different combinations:
1. Only right inside (2 Touch) – Receive R, Pass R
2. Only left inside (2 Touch)– Receive L, Pass L
3. Receive right – Pass left (if too hard stick w/ L or R only) (2 Touch)
4. Receive left – Pass right (if too hard stick w/ L or R only) (2 Touch)
5. One touch passing – either right or left foot – players should be close enough so that they can almost touch their
partner’s finger tips
Coaching points:
• Inside of the foot only to pass
• Plant foot next to the ball, 4-6 inches away – plant foot points (aims) at partner
• Firm pass
• Reception of partner’s pass should be in front of you and should prepare your return pass
Gate Passing
Organization: Partner and a ball (same groups just used)
Equipment: Balls, cones or stakes
Time: 7 minutes (5 - 60 second rounds, 20 second break)
Space: Area of gates – The # of gates should out number
groups by at least 1.5:1. Gates should be 4 ft in width
Description:
We just worked on passing stationary, now you are passing
on the move and working with a teammate.
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•
•
Players get in groups of two (no pennies needed), 1
ball between the pair
Players move within the area and pass the ball
through the gates (one player passes through the gate
to their partner who is on the opposite side of the gate)
Can’t pass the ball through the same gate twice in a row
o Start out with free play for the first 40 second segment
o Second segment – Inside right foot only
o Third segment – Inside left foot only
o Fourth segment – Any passing surface keeping score (each gate = 1 point)
o Fifth segment – Any passing surface, but require the pass to be at least 10 feet in distance
Between each segment during the 20 second break, allow for players to stretch and coaches may recap fundamental
passing points and errors they see
Coaching points:
• Short accurate passes
• Vision – Head up to make eye contact with partner to map out next gate pass
• Movement – Following each pass, players should make a forceful movement to find the next gate
• Talk – Communicate w/ partner to find the next gate
U6 Begin Games
For Stoneham SC viewing persons only. Content and information is the exclusive property of PROformance Soccer Academy. Page 2