Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Passing Drill - Short, Long, Lofted & Finish

Short and Long Passing20 mins

Short and Long Passing Drill with Finish

Organisation A 25m x 20m grid shown here with outside red cones on corners (1,4,5,8) . An additional 2 red cones 3m in from both corners on both sides (2,7) in front of the corner cones

2 x yellow cones 15 meters away (3,6) as the short passing scenario.

2 small goals as targets outside the grid near 1,8.

4 blue cones 5x5m in the centre as a diamond to establish a channel to allow pass from 1 to 6 and 8 to 3 with accuracy

Starts with Player at 1 passing to Player at 2 who bounces it back to 1. Player 1 then plays the ball to Player at 6 through the central target box of blue cones. Player at 2 turns to support this pass to 6 following their bounce. Player 6 bounces Player 2 who is now closer in support. When player 6 gets the ball back off the bounce pass they finish in the goal near 8. Repeat on the opposite side with 8 bouncing 7 and playing 3 bouncing 7 and passing into goal. 

Players follow their pass to next cone. 

Needs 8 players to work using both sides with the 2 players starting at 1 and 8

If less than 8 use 1 side and then swap after some time to train other foot.

If 8 players the same play can also occur at the same time from the opposite corner. Remove the central box of blue cones and use the traffic as the cue for when and where to pass across the grid.

The Progression is to move back to use cones 4 and 5 and make the pass longer along the ground and then to introduce a longer lofted pass across the square.

Can specify if you want that players passing from 1 to 6 use right foot and 8 to 4 use their left. 

Coaching Points

Technical bits and bobs

First touch to receive.

Weighted passes.

Limited touches

Accurate passes. 

Play the ball to the next player to encourage quick play and forward movement, especially in the finish.