Pop in soccer? Yes, POP in soccer!

POP is an acronym for Principles of Passing.

It is also an acronym for Pace of Play which happens to be our most popular camp theme.

The two are directly related to one another.  I have used POP for Pace of Play for quite some time, but only recently have begun using it for Principles of Passing. This came about as I evaluated our Pace of Play template for camps.

One of the things I like to do is watch young teams train and play the game. This often stimulates my thinking and planning for camp season.  I was recently watching a U12 team practice passing.  It was the typical or standard fare of drill work.  The results were about what one would expect and that's when my mind really started churning. 

I wondered to myself how many of the players could name the Principles of Passing.  I even wondered were I to ask the coaches, if they could name the Principles of Passing.  The glimmer of an idea came to mind that when teaching how to pass the ball we often demonstrate technique, but seldom explain or teach the principles behind the execution of the technique.

Before I go any further, I want to give a shout out to Blast the Ball.  I am not associated with the website / videos or company in any way. Simply an admirer in their approach to breaking down technique into the minutest of details.  The video came to mind while think through the process outlined here.

What are the Principles of Passing?

In attempting to keep this simple so as to be easily taught / learned and practically applied I have identified five Principles of Passing for your consideration.  I am sure I have not discovered these or re-invented the wheel as they say.  I am just putting them down "on paper" that we might use them when teaching players how to pass.

1) Have a plan:  I demand our players know their next play before their first touch on the ball.  This allows them to prepare to play the ball properly.

2) Angles:  Soccer is all about geometry.  Selecting the proper angle and positioning yourself to play that angle are key considerations to successfully passing the ball.

3) Timing:  Not too soon. Not too early.  Whether the pass is to feet or to space the timing of the pass is crucial to its success and maintaining the attacking rhythm.

4) Accuracy:  If you cannot pass successfully, you cannot play.  Again, whether passing to feet or passing to space (or to goal) passing accurately is a must. 

5) Proper weighting of the pass:  Not too soft, but not too hard.  Firm and with pace. 

In our Pace of Play camps we work to achieve successful one-touch play when ever appropriate and possible.  All five Principles of Passing must be combined in one movement or action in order for one touch play to be successful.  When this does occur, the ball can really zip about the pitch with astonishing speed. 

I believe players learning to pass the ball would benefit greatly if their technical instruction was expanded to include being taught the Principles of Passing.  What do you think?

Using 4 v 1 to develop basic possession fundamentals

Just when I think I have camp curriculum set a team will present a bit different problem for me to help them solve. Such was the case twice this summer when I found a need to adapt our standard camp fare to more appropriately fit the needs of teams we were working with. In both instances we were looking at increasing pace of play utilizing a possession style.

When working with a group for the first time I prefer to have game film from the previous season to review. I also rely heavily on their coach's description of play including their strengths and weaknesses. Even with decent prep work before beginning camp there are times when we need to adjust on the fly as we seek to establish a baseline we can start from. I often fall back on 4 v 1 as an evaluation and teaching exercise to accomplish this.

I consider 4 v 1 with the attackers on the outside of the grid and the defender inside the grid to be the most basic of possession games that also allows for the teaching of proper touch sequences, establishment of proper angles, vision, decision making and rhythm.

In most instance a 10 yard by 10 yard grid is appropriate to begin this exercise in. It is important to establish immediately that players should be positions along the sides of the grid and not in the corners. If you have the luxury of field space and striping equipment circles ban be even better to play "in" than a squared grid with players moving along the sides of the circle to establish passing angles. 

I really like this exercise to reinforce and give practical application to the two touch sequences of play - Right/Right, Right/Left, Left/Left and Left/Right. If there is a need introduce these sequences you might wish to utilize the breaking lines warm up exercises before moving on to 4 v 1.  I prefer each station work on the same sequence of touches at the same time. A basic element in the proper sequence of touches is found in receiving the ball across your body to the "back" foot. We call this being a back footed player.

When playing 4 v 1 it is essential for potential receivers of the ball to slide along their side of the grid in order to establish the proper angle to receive the ball on the back foot.  One of the rules of thumb that can be emphasized and reinforced while playing 4 v 1 is that when the ball carrier is under pressure teammates need to move closer to him.  The ball carriers eyes will be on the ball at his feet and under actual game conditions his attention might be on shielding the ball from the opponent. Moving closer, while making the playing area smaller allows for the larger angles necessary to safely pass the ball while also allowing the receiver to remain a back footed player.

A basic truth for receiving and passing the ball is that ball movement is predicated on player movement. While we are merely asking players to slide along the sides of the grid this is nonetheless an essential part of the exercise and a building block for the dynamic runs you want to see in games. This is one of the foundations for "being in your teammates vision early"  and "knowing your play with the ball before your first touch."

What we are discussing is properly preparing to play the ball before your first touch on the ball. Setting yourself up to be a back footed player is an example of one fundamental way to accomplish this. In being a back footed player your hips will be open to as much of the field as possible providing you with good sightlines to teammates and allows them to be in your vision early. It is important to stress the necessity for players to be game watchers instead of ball watchers.

As game watchers we can increase both the quality and the rate of our decision making which in turn allows us to establish a rhythm to our attacking play. Remember, attacking soccer is all about rhythm while defending is all about disrupting rhythm. We use rhythm to manipulate the opponents defense in order to create seams to penetrate to goal through.