by Richard Foster

Created on: January 27, 2009

It is important to realise that passing is the most important skill in soccer. Passing is the "glue" that links the play together and without good passing technique throughout the team there will be very little chance of building a successful unit. Naturally other skills, such as shooting and dribbling, attract greater attention and superficially make a greater impact on a match but the foundation of any team should be built around sound passing. A well-judged pass is often the most effective way of opening up an opposing defence or switching play. The four key components of passing are control, accuracy, pace and vision.

Firstly, before attempting to pass, the player must be able to control the ball. Whether in possession or striking the ball first time, it is imperative that the passer can deliver the ball to the exact spot intended. Such control is best attained by using the instep as this is the area of the foot which gives the player a greater chance of completing the pass. Most passes are made when the player has got possession of the ball, and once comfortable and confident of the target, he or she can determine exactly when to release the ball. The more difficult art of passing with the first touch should only be attempted when conditions are just right and the player is sure of their ability.

In attempting a short or long pass, accuracy must be the main objective. Once a player has picked the recipient for the pass he/she should decide as quickly as possible if the pass will be along the ground, which is preferable as it tends to be easier to achieve accuracy, or needs to be in the air. Then the player should concentrate on sending the ball to its target. For beginners, the best way to do this is to use an arm as a guide by pointing in the right direction then the foot should follow that axis naturally. Another principal consideration when passing is to impart just the right pace or weight on the ball, sometimes a pass needs to be hit quickly and crisply especially over longer distances. At other times a softer, slower approach is more suitable, as in laying the ball into the path of a teammate who is running quickly alongside the player.

Finally, vision is an attribute that players will need to develop with experience. To be able to look around the pitch and pick the right pass is something which often differentiates the ordinary from the extraordinary. This involves assessing very quickly what options are available and where the most effective pass can be played. To aid this assessment the ability to play the game with one's head up is crucial and all young players should be encouraged to do this from an early stage, once they have total faith in having the ball at their feet. The best players do not spend much time looking down at the ball, but are able to look around them, be aware of what is going on at that moment and then use their judgement to make an accurate pass.

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