Teaching the technique of passing is actually quite straightforward.
However, it's not always easy to spot and remedy the mistakes that children often make.
These are the key elements to cover when teaching basic passing:
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Use inside of the foot (the instep).
| The non-striking foot should be pointing in the direction of the intended target.
| The striking leg makes a swinging motion similar to a putter in golf.
| The striking ankle must be locked.
| Stay relaxed. Don’t be like a robot.
| Look up to find your target but remember to look at the ball as you strike it. That's the only way the player can strike the ball correctly.
| Move afterwards – don't stand there admiring your pass! |
These are some common mistakes and how to correct them:
If the ball is off target, but rolling well - the player has not pointed her non-striking foot at the target.
If the ball spins off the foot - the ankle was not locked when striking the ball.
If the ball goes in the air - the player has struck the ball below the centreline of the ball and it will rise. Striking the ball above the centreline will ensure that it rolls on the ground.
If the pass lacks power or the player falls down after passing - she tried to swing her leg ACROSS her body instead of on a line with the hips and shoulders.