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How to Play Like Lionel Messi - Barcelona's Little Genius
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Passing the Test - Soccer Passing Skills
Having learned the importance of strategy, one of the most critical skills to develop in applying it—as well as the backbone of teamwork in soccer—is passing.
Passing allows your team to keep possession of the ball and find holes in the opposing team’s defense. As a team, try to keep the ball moving and spread the defense, taking advantage of open spaces. The best way to accomplish this is to play one and two touch soccer.
Strike the ball with pace so that your teammate doesn't have to wait on the ball. A firm pass is more likely to arrive at its destination. In terms of teamwork, the player who is the intended target of your pass must go to the ball. At the same time though, make your teammate look good by digging out a bad pass and keep possession.
As a team, train in game-like situations, with the right kind of intensity and pressure. Anybody can play keep a way when they aren't under pressure, but only the good player can do it in a crunch.
You can recreate game-like conditions by making the areas you are playing in small so that there is constant pressure on those with the ball. Then, when you are getting the right intensity, open the game up and play in a larger area. For example, start with 8 versus 8 in the goal box and then open up into the whole half once the intensity mimics that of a game.
When you’re not training with the team, work on technique by kicking the ball against a wall. Make sure to use both your right and left foot. Keep your ankle locked and strike through the center of the ball with pace. Get your body behind the ball with a uniform strong sense of balance.
In order to become a great passer, you’re also going to need to become familiar with the different kinds of passes, and the various ways in which they are used…
Put Your Best Foot Forward
The way in which you move the ball depends on several things, such as:
- Where it’s going
- What you want it to do when it gets there
- Who’s in the way, and
- What part of the foot you use
The first three factors depend on your own strategy, but the last one depends solely on technique: Inside of the foot: This is the most useful part of the foot to use when passing the ball. It’s the part of your foot with the most surface area, thus giving you the most control and accuracy.
Inside edge of the foot: This is the same as the above but with the upper portion of your foot to bend the ball. Wrap your foot around the ball so it curves into your teammate’s feet or into an area, as with a cross or shot.
Outside of the foot: This kind of pass is used when you want to bend the ball into a teammate or into an area. Often, your body is in a position where you can't make a simple pass. If this is the case, try to strike through the ball. Follow through with the upper portion of the outside of your foot.
Long passes: This is for driving the ball into a teammate.. If you are picking a player out, you don't need to follow through the ball. Instead, strike the ball sharply and stop your follow through just after hitting it.
By fine-tuning your skills as a passer, you can significantly increase your team’s chances of success. Your victory won’t be complete, however, unless you and your teammates learn to cooperate to control the ball…
NEXT: Check out these passing standards, from the give and go to the overlap.
Watch These Passing Videos:
Check out these great passing videos and our section on crossing:
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