Passing & Receiving
Passing along the ground with the inside of the foot and controlling the ball with a soft first touch
⏳ 50 minutes · 5 activities
1
Pass & Follow
Children pass between themselves in pairs and follow the ball. Simple, high-repetition introduction to passing.
Setup
- Children in pairs, 5-6 yards apart
- One ball between each pair
- Mark the starting spots with a cone so they can return to the right position
How to Play
- Pass with the inside of the foot to your partner
- Partner receives and passes back
- After 2 minutes, step back to 8 yards apart
Rules
- Count consecutive passes without it going wide — try to beat your own record
- Progress: receive on one foot, pass with the other
- Progress: after passing, move to a new position so partner has to adapt
1
Plant foot pointing at the target2
Hit through the middle of the ball with the inside of the foot3
Receiving touch: cushion the ball rather than letting it bounce away2
Three-Cone Triangle
Groups of three in a triangle — pass around the triangle in order, then reverse. Introduces moving after passing.
Setup
- Groups of 3, each with 3 cones in a triangle (5 yards between cones)
- One ball per group
- Start with one player per cone
How to Play
- Pass around the triangle in one direction, follow your pass and run to the next cone
- After 2 minutes, reverse direction
- After 4 minutes: one person in the middle receives and returns each pass
Progressions
- Count how many passes the group completes in 60 seconds
- Progress: use only two touches (control, pass)
- Progress: add a fourth cone to make a square
1
Get to the next cone quickly after passing — do not stand and watch2
Receiver opens their body to control the ball towards the next cone3
Keep the passes on the ground — chip passes make it harder for the receiver3
Passing Gates Game
Pairs compete to pass through as many gates as possible. Introduces passing under slight pressure.
Setup
- Scatter 8-10 gates (pairs of cones 1.5 yards wide) around a 20x20 yard area
- Pairs: each pair has one ball
- No goalkeepers, no teams — each pair is their own unit
How to Play
- Pairs pass the ball through as many gates as possible in 90 seconds
- Ball must go through a gate to count — along the ground
- Partners must be on opposite sides of a gate for it to count
Key Focus
- Cannot use the same gate twice in a row
- Progress: introduce a pair as defenders who try to intercept — not tackle
- Competitive version: pair with the most gates in 2 minutes wins a point
1
Communication — call when you want the ball2
Receiver should move to make themselves available to pass through a gate3
Weight of pass matters — too hard and the receiver struggles to control it4
2v2 Pass to Score
Small-sided game where a team can only score if they complete a pass first.
Setup
- Groups of 4 (2v2) in a small area with one goal at each end
- No goalkeepers
- One ball
How to Play
- Normal match but you must pass to a team mate before shooting
- If you shoot without passing first, give the ball to the other team
- Restart from the keeper (or the coach) after each goal
Notes
- Simplify the rule if they are struggling — any pass in the build-up counts
- Remove the rule entirely for the last 3 minutes and just let them play
5
Cool Down
Relax, stretch and recall what they worked on.
Stretches
- Pairs sit facing each other with the ball between them
Q1. How did you stop the ball from running away when receiving?
Q2. What helped you pass accurately?
Q3. Pass the ball gently to your partner as your last touch of the session!