7 Soccer Passing Drills

What is one skill in soccer that turns a group of individuals into a cohesive unit? Passing.

Passing directly correlates with how well your players can maintain possession of the ball and create scoring opportunities—ultimately affecting the outcome of a game.

In this blog, we uncover the top 7 passing drills that can be used at soccer tryouts, practices, or clinics. Drills that work on your players’ foot placement, follow-through, timing, and decision-making.

1. Player in the Middle

• Put a defence player in the middle of the field.

• Have two passers stand across from each other on opposite sides of the field.

• Passers will attempt to pass to each other while trying to avoid any interception by the defender.

2. Four-Goal Game

• Set up four goals in a 20×30 yard grid.

• Divide your players into two teams of 5.

• Players will work on passing to each other within a small/confined space and attempt to score a goal.

• The first team to score all 4 goals will win. *Note: If the team scores in the same goal again, this won’t count for anything.

Four-Goal game

3. Passing Relay

• Pair up your players and set up two nets on one end of the field. Nets should be side-by-side, about 2 feet apart.

• The first two pairs will start on the opposite end of the field. Each pair will be given a ball.

• On your whistle, pairs will race each other to the net, dribbling and passing the ball back and forth.

4. Straight Line Passing

• Set up three cones in a straight line. *Set up two stations on the field.

• Place one player beside each cone.

• Player 1 starts with the ball and will make a pass to Player 2 without moving.

• Player 2 will receive the pass, control the ball (by stopping it), and turn around to make a pass to Player 3.

• Upon receiving the ball, Player 3 will practice the same motions of receiving, stopping, and passing the ball back to Player 2.

Note: This drill helps players work on one-touch passing, which is essential to speed up the game and keep the opposing team under pressure.

Straight line passing

5. Distance Square Passing

• Set up four cones in a square formation.

• *Distance may vary, but a good starting distance is 30 yards apart.

• Place one player at each cone. One player will start with the ball.

• Set a timer for 2 minutes. Each player will take turns making long passes to each other.

• After the timer is up, swap out your players.

Tip: Make sure players have full control of the ball when receiving a pass before making one.

6. Knock the Pylons

• Set up 4-6 pylons on each side of the field.

• Divide your players into two teams of 5. Each player will have a soccer ball.

• On your whistle, players will attempt to “pass” the ball and knock over a pylon.

• *Players must stay in the same spot for the entire drill. They can only move to retrieve the ball.

Note: Players must work on proper technique, body mechanics and timing to ensure each pass is powerful.

Knock the pylons

7. Rondo 5 vs. 2

• Place 5 attackers in a circle and 2 defenders in the middle.

• The attackers will work together to make as many successful passes in a row before the defenders intercept.

• Attackers can pass the ball around or between the defenders, who will try to gain possession of the ball.

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