How to Pass a Soccer Ball: Tips to Master the Art of Passing
Knowing how to pass a soccer ball is one of the most essential skills of the game because it allows a team to keep possession of the ball, create goal scoring opportunities, and work cohesively as a unit. However, the art of passing isn’t just about kicking the ball to a teammate—it’s about being direct, accurate, making the right decisions at the right time, and understanding the flow of the game.
Everyone knows that scoring goals and seeing goals are the most exciting parts of the game, but sometimes the pass right before the goal, the assist, is even better than the goal itself. In this blog, I will be going over the different types of soccer passes, provide you with instructions for how to pass the ball properly, as well as provide you with important tips to master the art of passing a soccer ball.
Steps for How to Pass a Soccer Ball
In soccer, different types of passes will require slightly different steps and technique, but in general, they will all follow very similar steps.
Aim with your planted foot
When passing a soccer ball it is important to make sure your plant foot, the non kicking foot, is aimed in the desired direction that you want the ball to go to. The inside of the plant foot should be facing the soccer ball and should be placed closely next to the ball, but not too close or too far.
Open your passing hip
As you are about to pass the ball, it is also important to open your hip on the side from which you’re passing the ball. This allows for a smoother and more natural movement, which leads to a more accurate pass.
Have the Right Body Position
As you approach the ball, it is important to have the right body position which means you have the knees slightly bent, you are on your toes, and you are leaning slightly forward over the ball. This posture helps maintain balance and control during the pass because if you lean backwards too much the ball will go in the air.
Keep the Ankle Locked
You may have heard this phrase before “lock your ankle.” But how do you know if you are properly locking your ankle?
To pass with a locked ankle, instead of with a wobbly ankle, soccer players have to learn how to apply fascial tension to their feet, toes, and arches of the feet. Locking the ankles, which is the same as creating ankle stiffness, is important for anything you do on the field from passing to shooting to even dribbling.
Contact the Middle of the Ball
Some passes will require hitting the bottom of the ball, such as the chipped and lofted passes, but in general, most passes will require you to hit the middle of the ball so that the ball doesn’t go too high in the air and reaches its desired destination properly.
Follow through
Finally, make sure that you are following through with your pass. The follow through, which is basically you using your momentum to help you get more power, is a great way to improve the effectiveness of many types of passes, but not all passes will need as intense of a follow through as others.
Types of Passes in Soccer
One aspect of the game that can separate great players from good players is how well they are able to pass the ball in various situations, with either foot, and with different techniques.
Firm Pass
A firm pass is executed with power and speed, ensuring that the ball reaches its destination without being intercepted.
Chipped Pass
A chipped pass happens by lifting the ball slightly off the ground to pass it over an opponent. This technique is useful in situations where a ground pass might be intercepted.
Lofted Pass
The lofted pass is similar to a chipped pass but it is executed by lifting the ball higher into the air over a longer distance. This type of pass is crucial for avoiding defenders and getting the ball to a player that is further down the field.
Forward Pass
A forward pass involves directing the soccer ball towards the opponent’s goal or towards an attacking player, such as a winger or striker, to advance the play.
Through Pass
A through pass is played into open space behind the opponent’s defensive line, allowing a teammate to run onto the ball and through to goal. This is similar to a forward pass, but a through pass has to break through the defensive line.
Back Pass
A back pass is when a player passes the ball backward to a teammate, often used to maintain possession and create space.
Cross
A cross is a curved pass played from wide positions into the penalty area, typically for attacking players to attempt a header or volley shot on goal.
Give and Go Pass
A give and go involves passing the ball to a teammate and then quickly moving into open space to receive a return pass.
One Touch Pass
One touch pass is a quick and immediate pass made with a single touch of the ball.
Back heel Pass
A back heel pass is executed by striking the ball with the heel of the foot.
Short Passes
Short passes involve playing the ball to a nearby teammate with precision and control. These passes are crucial for maintaining possession in close quarters and building up the play in a controlled manner.
Long passes
On the opposite side of short passes we have long passes which are exactly what they sound like.
Tips for How to Pass a Soccer Ball
Now that you know the different types of passes and have read the step-by-step instructions, let’s talk about some tips to improve your passing.
Choose the Right Type of Pass
The first step for passing a soccer ball better is to understand the different types of passes and understand what passing technique you need for different situations.
Visualize the target
Before making a pass, visualize your target on the field and try to see the finished pass in your head before it happens in real life.
Utilize both Feet:
The better you get at passing with both feet, the better your overall game will become. Becoming ambidextrous is one of the fastest ways to level up your game because you no longer have to rely on only one foot.
Consider the Defender’s Position:
Be aware of the defender’s position, and choose passes that minimize the risk of interception. This is where having various passing techniques in your toolkit comes in handy.
Adjust Power and Technique for Short Passes:
When making short passes, adjust the power and technique to ensure the ball reaches your teammate with precision. Short passes are crucial for maintaining possession in close quarters, but they need to have enough power to reach their target and not too much that the ball is too hard to control.
Summary
To summarize, knowing how to pass a soccer ball is one of the most important skills for any soccer player no matter what position you play. In this blog I went over the most common types of soccer passes, steps for how to pass a soccer ball, as well as provided you with tips on how you can start improving your passing abilities today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I begin improving my soccer skills right now?
To begin improving your soccer skills right now, check out our post on the best soccer training drills. If you are looking to accelerate your progress, contact us or sign an interest form for our private training program.
How to pass a soccer ball with more confidence?
The best ways to train your soccer passing abilities is by using the following tips as well as by checking out our post on the best passing drills for soccer players.
- Play in a team environment and train consistently
- Play a lot of variations of the game including
- small sided games (5v5, 7v7, or 9v9)
- Pickup games
- Futsal
- Beach soccer
- Training your passing skills barefoot
- Also, when you spend time barefoot on natural land you get the benefits of grounding therapy, which can improve mitochondrial function, sleep, recovery, energy levels, and much more.
- Train with a wall or a rebound board
- Train with different sized soccer balls
