The Self Pass in Soccer

What a great soccer skill this is to learn. The self pass. A soccer skill that is under appreciated. Passing to yourself is sometimes a way to escape from pressure. Here, soccer coach Michelle French of Eastside FC demonstrates how to receive the soccer ball and create a little working room for yourself with a self pass. In this drill, she gives herself room by executing a small ‘self-pass’ upon receiving the ball.

The self pass is a way to give yourself space if a defender is closing you down. If a pass comes into you and you feel a defender closing you down, control the ball a little bit further out in front of than you normally would so you can turn and face the defender.

The key is taking the bigger touch that’s bigger than a normal control, cushion or trap. And then after doing the self pass you can do a step over turn or a pull back, that opens you up to face the defender and the whole field. This is really a simple but great move that all soccer players should incorporate into their game.

Learn how to do the self pass in soccer.

Eastside FC operates as a non-profit corporation serving the needs of premier youth soccer players in Washington state.