Annual training plan · U9–U13

Week 4: Passing Basics for Kids

3 complete training sessions with 12 drills – created by licensed coaches. Open every drill in the easy2coach web app with one click.

This week’s focus

Last week's topic was defending 1 vs 1 in the centre, an individual tactical focus. So it is now the turn of a technical topic again. This week is about the basics of passing.

Players learn the different passing techniques for short passing and apply them in match-realistic situations. Over the following sessions, time pressure and pressure from opponents are stepped up, so that players can play the ball accurately to a team-mate even when under heavy pressure.

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

In passing, besides mastering the correct technique, it is also important to read the game situation correctly. After all, it is not enough simply to get the ball to the nearest team-mate. Rather, there are many different factors that determine a pass.

However, these are largely decisions that are made intuitively in a match, and the quality of these decisions improves with regular practice.

Coaching points for this session
  • Accuracy comes before pace
  • Demand two-footed passing
  • Back up passes with a call: the team-mate's name, turn, lay-off, etc.
Drill 1

Rondo - 6+1 vs 2

15 min

The game is played 6 + 1 vs 2 for possession.

  • The players in possession try to pass the ball among themselves without the defenders winning it or playing it out of the area.
  • The player inside the area acts as a passing option for the outside players.
  • If the defenders win the ball, the player who lost it swaps position and role with the defender who has been in the middle the longest.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: The playing area is set up with six cones.

Equipment: 6 cones and at least 1 ball.

Players: Six players are positioned on the outside, three in the middle. One of the inside players plays together with the outside players.

Coaching points
  • Depending on the ability of the players, have every pass or every second pass played first time.
  • Demand passing with both feet.
Drill 2

Passing with Coordination and Running Drills

20 min
  • The ball is played back and forth between positions A and B.
  • After the pass, the players continue anticlockwise around the square.
  • On the way they complete a coordination task at the ladder and a running task from the running drills.
  • The coach sets the tasks.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark a square with positions A and B; next to it lie six hurdles and an agility ladder.

Equipment: Cones, 6 hurdles, 1 agility ladder and several balls.

Players: At least two players stand at each cone.

Coaching points
  • Play all passes with the second touch.
  • Passing accuracy comes before passing pace.
  • Increase the passing pace step by step.
  • Have the passes played with the weaker foot too.
  • Have the passes played with the inside and the outside of the instep too.
Drill 3

Funino - Passing 3 vs 1 or 3 vs 2

25 min
  • Goals may only be scored from the finishing zone.
  • The overload should be played out.
  • The opponent always starts from the opposite finishing zone.
  • The starting positions rotate continuously — green, blue, yellow, green again.
  • Basic rule: every player must have touched the ball once before the finish.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the playing area and the finishing zones; four mini goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 4 mini goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Teams for the 3 vs 1 or the 3 vs 2 in the colours green, blue and yellow.

Coaching points
  • Play out the overload cleverly.
  • Pass firmly and accurately.
  • Play the team-mate into the front foot when free.
Drill 4

5 vs 3 Alternating

25 min
  • Team Yellow plays 5 vs 3 against Team Blue on the two mini goals.
  • If a goal is scored, Team Blue plays with five and Team Yellow with three players.

Variations: If the three players act too passively, the rule applies that seven passes in a row count as a goal.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area; there are four mini goals at the ends.

Equipment: 4 mini goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of five players each.

Coaching points
  • If the 3 players act too passively, introduce the rule that 7 passes count as a goal.
The complete session as a ready-made training plan – with animated drills in the web app. Go to the web app

Session 2

4 drills

Passing is also about giving the team-mate the best possible conditions for continuing play. The choice of the pace and accuracy of the pass is crucial here.

However, there is one more way of supporting the team-mate as well as possible, and that is communication.

This can be done through the choice of the foot the pass is played to:

1) Pass to the foot furthest from the opponent: opponent behind or

2) Pass to the front foot: free space in the direction of play.

In addition, the best option for continuing play can also be communicated in the form of a command:

1) turn or 2) lay it off

Coaching points for this session
  • Ask your players to back up their passes with short, clear calls
  • Also make sure that marked players receive the ball on the foot furthest from the opponent
Drill 1

Numbered Passing

20 min30 x 25 metres.

Players 1 and 7 each start with a ball. Passing follows ascending numerical order: Player 1 passes to Player 2, Player 2 to Player 3 and so on. At the same time Player 7 starts and passes upwards to Player 8.

To begin with, play with at least two touches per player, not first time. As the drill progresses, switch to one-touch play with a single touch.

Variations:

  • Players 1, 5 and 9 each start with a ball — three balls in play in total.
  • Change the group size and the number of balls; both increase the level of difficulty.
  • A maximum of three touches per player, with the incoming pass controlled in one touch. This is followed by a quick change of direction and a firm pass to the next team-mate.
  • Set the passing technique: inside of the foot, laces, outside of the foot, inside-of-the-foot push pass or curling the ball with plenty of spin.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: 30 x 25 metres, marked out with four cones.

Equipment: 4 cones and 2 balls.

Players: 12 players, numbered from 1 to 12, spread out across the playing area.

Coaching points
  • Call out to the receiving player before playing the pass.
  • Keep constant eye contact with the passer and the receiver.
  • Coordinate the timing of the pass and of the start of the run.
  • Keep moving and change areas rather than standing in one position.
  • Correct any faulty execution and demonstrate the correct execution.
Drill 2

Positional Play: 4 vs 2 with a Change of Area

20 minTwo areas of 15 x 15 metres each
  • In one of the two areas, 4 vs 2 is played for possession; two players wait in the other area.
  • The two players with the numerical disadvantage try to win the ball.
  • If they succeed, the ball is passed into the other area as directly as possible.
  • Two players from each team move into the new area; now the other team plays with the ball and with the numerical advantage.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones or tall cones mark out two squares next to each other.

Equipment: 6 cones or tall cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of four players each.

Coaching points
  • Demand quick transition play.
  • The team with the numerical disadvantage defends the space, but goes aggressively for the ball when a good opportunity arises.
Drill 3

Passing - Lay-Off and Pass

15 min
  • Player B makes a preparatory movement and receives a pass from Player A.
  • Player B lays the ball straight back to Player A.
  • Player A then plays a long ball to Player C.
  • After that, Players A and B swap positions.
  • Players C and D also play two passes before Player C plays a ball to the second player at A.
  • After that, Players C and D swap positions.

Variations:

  • After a few rounds, place the cones of Players C and D on the other side.
  • After a few rounds, have the passes over the longer distance played with the inside instep.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark the positions: A and C lie opposite each other in a line, B and D offset to the sides in between.

Equipment: 4 cones and several balls.

Players: At least six players spread across the four positions; at positions A and C a second player stands ready in each case. The balls are with Player A.

Coaching points
  • Play the passes to Players C and D into the foot furthest from the opponent.
  • Accompany every pass with a call.
Drill 4

4 vs 4 + 4 Support Players

25 minDouble penalty area
  • In a double penalty area, two teams play a free game of 4 vs 4 on two goals with goalkeepers.
  • In their respective attacking half the teams have four support players.
  • The support players are positioned on the touchlines and on the goal line of the playing area and must play first time.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two goals, six cones to mark out the playing area and the outer zones as well as two cones near the halfway line, which mark the halves.

Equipment: 2 goals, 8 cones and at least 1 ball.

Players: Two teams of four players each, one goalkeeper each as well as four support players per attacking half.

Note: If eight outside players are assigned and split between the two teams, this can lead to long periods of standing around. Six outside players are better, with the ones on the sides playing for both teams. The roles are changed regularly.

Coaching points
  • Do not block the passing lanes to the support players.
  • Use the numerical advantage cleverly.
  • Get free to become available for a pass or open up the passing lanes to the support players.

Session 3

4 drills

After a warm-up on passing and dribbling, the session continues with a sprint competition, which demands quick thinking as well as quick legs.

The last two drills then return to the main topic of passing.

Exercise 3 takes up the lay-off again, which was already introduced in the last training session and can be practised further in this session.

Exercise 4 is a 6 vs 6 on passing gates. The aim is to open up the passing gates cleverly.

Drill 1

Dribbling with Passing in a Square

15 min
  • The players in the inner square dribble freely in the area and pass to a free support player on the sides of the outer square.
  • The passer follows the pass and swaps positions with the player who received it.
  • The player who received the ball then dribbles into the area and swaps position with the passer from the inner square.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Eight cones mark out two squares — an inner one and an outer one.

Equipment: 8 cones and half as many balls as there are players taking part.

Players: Some of the players stand in the inner square, the others as support players along the sides of the outer square.

Coaching points
  • Have different techniques performed while dribbling.
  • Move towards the team-mate's pass.
  • Keep looking up from the ball.
Drill 2

Tic Tac Toe 2

15 min
  • Tic tac toe is played on the cone area of three by three squares.
  • Each team receives three bibs and can assign them to the cones as they wish.
  • The aim is to get the three bibs in a row — diagonally, horizontally or vertically.
  • Before a bib may be put down, a sprint over 20 metres must be completed.

Variations: Add further obstacles along the sprint distance.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones form a playing area of three by three squares; in front of it lie six hurdles and two starting cones mark the beginning of the sprint distance.

Equipment: Cones, 6 hurdles and three bibs per team.

Players: Two teams.

Drill 3

Shot After a Passing Move

15 min
  • The first player of group A dribbles forward briefly and passes to Player B.
  • Player B lays the ball off to Player A.
  • Player A shoots at goal.
  • Player B fetches the ball and joins the queue at A, Player A joins the queue at B.

Variations:

  • Have the drill carried out on the other side of the pitch as well.
  • Have the drill carried out as a competition.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: There is a goal at each end; the groups stand next to the goal and 16 metres away from it in each case.

Equipment: 2 goals and several balls.

Players: The team is divided into four groups — one group next to each goal and one 16 metres away in each case. Plus goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Have the drill carried out on the other side of the pitch as well
  • Have the drill carried out as a competition
Drill 4

6 vs 6 with Passing Gates

20 min
  • The first round is played without a touch limit.
  • Points are awarded for playing the ball through a cone goal.
  • For the next point a different cone goal must be targeted.

Variations: Also count many passes in a row as a point.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Tall cones mark out the playing area, cones form several passing gates inside the area.

Equipment: Tall cones, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of six players each.

Coaching points
  • The passes through the gates must reach a team-mate.
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