Passing Progressions

Passing progression I

This ties in with REACT and RID as well as some of the observations I will be sharing concerning the high school video I have watched. It also goes to the Details of the Process post that can be found elsewhere on this blog. It really is important to keep it simple.

Passing progressions: The focus will be on proper technique, an economy of touches and an efficiency in movement of ball and players. Remember, keep it simple for both incorrect touches and excessive touches slows play. Additionally, use the fewest steps necessary to position yourself properly

 

1) Two players facing one another at a distance of 6 yards, 2 cones 5 ft apart placed equi-distance between the 2 players.

          Using the push pass technique, pass the ball back and forth between the cones. Remember the plant foot should be pointed at the target. The toes of the kicking foot are up, the heel down thus locking the ankle in place. Strike the midpoint of the bal with the ankle bone and follow through towards the target.

Right foot
Left foot
Alternate feet

     Move the players back to a distance of 10 yards apart.

Right foot
Left foot
Alternate feet

      Move players back to 15 or 20 yards apart

Play 2 to 3 touches.
Looking for accuracy of pass
Build in receiving outside of footprints once accuracy of pass is solid.

This is a simple first step but an impotant one in building a foundaion to progress onward. Do not gloss over these seemingly simple steps. Remember not to become bored with the details of the process.

 

Passing progression II

The second progression is a brief one that naturaly leads to the 3rd progression.

2) Two players face one another at a distance of 1 - 2 yards

·  Using the push pass technique, pass the ball one touch back and forth.

Alternate feet

Variation – vary the distance moving away and then back together

Variation –play the ball in the air (juggling) 1-3 touches for each player

Ball may bounce on the ground

One of the significant points of this progression is acclimating the partners to being in close proximity of one another. Another important aspect is the introduction of being light on their feet in preparation to play. Preparing to play is a key consideration.

Coaching Phrase: Failing to Prepare Properly is Preparing to Fail.

Passing progression III

 

The third progression becomes a bit more involved. It is still basic but begins to incorporate verbal commnication, turning with the ball

3) 2 players face one another at a distance of 3 yards.

·  Player 1 pass the ball between the legs of player 2

·  Player 2 turns, tracks ball down

·  Player 1 calls “Turn!”

·  Player 2 turns with the ball, dribbles back and then stops the ball at Player 1’s feet by placing his foot on the ball

Variation 1 – Player 1 calls “Turn!” then calls “Ball!”

Player 2 turns, passes ball back to player 1 and calls “Hold!”

Player 1 stops the ball and allows player 2 to reset.

Variation 2 – Player 1 “throws-in” the ball over player 2’s head

Player 2 turns, tracks ball down

Player 1 calls “Turn!”

Player 2 turns and explodes with a dribble back to player 1

Variation 3 – For a 3 person group

Player 1 passes the ball between player 2’s legs

Player 2 turns, tracks the ball down

Player 1 calls “Turn!” then calls “Ball!”

Player 2 plays the ball back to player 1 then steps wide before replacing player 1

Player 1 plays the ball long to player 3 and calls “Hold!”

Player 1 advances to player 3

Player 3 plays ball between player 1’s legs to restart the sequence

 

Passing progression IV

 

4) Player 2 plays the ball to player 1 then turns and checks away

Player 1 advances the ball to the starting position

Player 2 turns and calls “Ball!”

One of the variations I like to implement utilizes non-verbal comunication. Before the player checks away, have him make eye contact with the passer. This is a simple means to communicate "I want the ball!" Then as the player checking away reaches a distance of approximately 8 yards away, and before he truns back to check to, the passer plays him the ball. This maximizes Time and Space at the moment of separation from the defender as the ball is arriving while the defender is still changing direction. The simple eye contact between passer and receiver makes this work effectively.

 

Passing progression V

 

5) Two players face one another at a distance of 10 yards

2 cones 5 feet apart between the players

Players pass the ball back and forth using the push pass technique

Player 1 calls “Change”

Player 1 dribbles ball through the cones

Player 2 runs outside of cones to switch positions

Variation - Player 1 and player 2 execute a takeover between the cones

Player w/ ball calls “Change!”

Players execute a right foot to right foot takeover

Players execute a left foot to left foot takeover

 

Passing progression VI

 

6)  2 players face one another at distance of 10 yards

2 cones 5 feet apart between the players

Players pass the ball back and forth using the push pass technique

Player receiving the ball calls “Fade!”

Other player moves toward outside of cones

If moving to his right, player pivots on left foot to open hips to partner

If moving to his left the player pivots on his right foot to open hips to partner

Player dribbles through cones

Partner calls “Turn!” then calls “Ball!”

Player that had been dribbling turns and plays ball to his partner.

 

Passing progression VII
 

7) 2 cones 3 feet apart between the players

Player 1 serves the ball with his left foot wide of cones to his left.

Player 2 plays the ball back to player one’s right foot using his right foot

Player 2 moves to far cone, touches it, moves back to other cone, touches it and then moves beyond the far cone to play a pass from player 1

Player 1 plays a pass with his right foot wide of the cones to his right

Player 2 plays the ball back to player one’s left foot using his left foot

Player 2 moves to far cone, touches it, moves back to other cone, touches it and then moves beyond far cone to play next ball.

After "X" number of touches by player #2 the roles are exchanged.

This is a simple exercise but a very important one. The Details of the Processmust not be overlooked. Playing a pass to the proper foot is an essential skills. The movements required of the receivng player are also important as they simulate checking away from and back to space to be played in.

A simple variation is to have player one recieve return passes across his body then carry the ball a couple of touches away while player #2 is making his touches between cones then aking the proper pass to player #2 while moving towards him. The cones may need to set a little further a part to establish rythym and timing in this variation.

Remember to incorporate non-verbal communication in this progression. Passer and receiver should make eye contact with one another. In this case, as player #2 is making runs between cones. This can be done after touching each cone. Extending the hand of the foot the pass should be played to is another means of non-verbal communication that can and should be applied.

 

Passing progression VIII

This passing progression works on off the ball movement, verbal communication and turning. Continue to re-inforce the lessons of non-verbal communication in setting up a pass. Also continue to re-inforce the responsibility of passing to the proper foot. Add in the importance of making sharp cuts to gain seperation from a defender. Rounded cuts are much easier to follow than a sharp cut and explosive change of direction.

8) 2 players with 1 ball

Player 2 calls “Ball!”

Player 1 passes the ball to player 2 and calls “Turn!”

Player 2 turns with the ball and explodes away at an angle

Player 1 uses “V” cuts to move into the vision of player 2 and calls “Ball!” beginning the sequence again.

The focus is on the V cuts, non-verbal and verbal communication, passing to the proper foot, the turn and explosive change of direction. All this from a simple exercise? Yes! It remains critcally important not to become bored with the details of the process. Each step is important and deserves, even demands, your full attention. This is about being disciplined in your play.

 

 

Passing progression IX

 

This progression will seem fundamental in nature and not very game like. However it addresses verbal communication and proper technique. Once again, non-verbal communication should also be incorporated. The importance of the terminology used here will become evident as we continue on.

9)    2 players with 1 ball face one another at a distance of 3 yards

Player 2 calls “Ball!”

Player 1 ball plays ball with his right foot to the right foot of player 2

Player 2 stops ball with his right foot and leaves it as he backpedals away

Player 1 advances to play ball with his left foot

Player 2 calls “Ball!”

Player 1 passes the ball with his left foot to the left foot of player 2


 
Passing progression X

This is the last progression of this phase. Once again a primary focus is on verbal communication. Sound technique must continue to be empasized as shoud non-verbal communication. An example here is the "pivot step". The pivot should be on the non-kicking foot initially with thestarting position of the ball just outside that footprint. Variations would be to incorporate an simple turn. You might even ask the player receiving the ball to take a touch or two away before turning to start the sequence again. The benfit of this last example will be demonstrated when we begin incorporating the 10 passing progressions into learning cues for combination passing.

10)   2 players with one ball face one another at a distance of 3 yards

Player 1 plays ball to player 2 and calls “Hold!”

Player 1 runs by player 2 and calls “Turn!” as he takes a position 3 yards away

Player 2 takes one step, pivots and plays ball to partner as partner calls “Ball!”

There are a couple of more progressions.that go along with the first 10 and I will present those in the future. As mentioned above we can also move into combination passing at this point. It also important to provide players with the opportunity to demonstrate their newly acquired competence in the progression under game-like conditions. To this end I will begin presenting some basic small-sided games that can focus on what we have worked on in the there 10 progressions.