PASSING ON SOME SAGE ADVICE

After reading many articles about what to do in 'Corona-time' for individual players; it struck me that most advise pointed in the direction of working on ball control skills and fitness.

There is nothing wrong, of course, with that advise; however, we must not forget that the most important skills to use in our game are:

Receiving - Passing (and Scoring)

 Soccer is a “passing game” where we need to get the ball from one side to the other side of the field and try to score; that is the main objective.

 Of course you need to bring yourself in a position that you can make yourself free but always there needs to be a pass or shot after that.

 In the late 80’s Wiel Coerver came to me and wanted to try out his methods with my soccer coaches students. We rented some cottages in Holland with a nice soccer field next to it and for a week we all worked on the Wiel Coerver moves. Wiel wanted our comments but as you probably know after talking to him he had his own ideas and the rest is history.

 I wrote in the years after that my own method, “Master the Ball” which built on what Wiel was doing; but I brought more structure in the moves: back moves, side moves, faints and passing moves(building up the resistance of the opponent in a couple of steps) and connected all moves with passing or scoring opportunity.

 We, as instructors for UEFA C, B and A, are still convinced that soccer is a passing game and that in every training this item needs to be implemented as a major part of a training session.

Covid also brings a lot of possibilities for your players to do on their own or with a friend, like skill practicing and condition but ………PASSING is number #1. 

Example #1: 1 player; 1 ball; 2 cones; either ...

A Bench

A Wall

#1. Pass with the left foot, Move to receive the ball (1st touch) and Pass (2nd touch) with the right foot; continue sequence...

#2. Pass with the left foot, Move and (1st touch) Pass with the right foot; continue sequence...

#3. Challenge: Count number of successful passes; Right foot (only) Left foot (only); Alternating between Right & Left foot; How many in a certain time limit (1 minute).

#4. Variations: Increase & decrease distance to the wall; Increase & decrease space between cones.

#5. Click for more examples..!

Coach Ton de Hoop

Instructor: KNVB ... and... UEFA "A" and "B"

Founder/Advisor -- Winning Mood

Koach Karl’s Notes: 

Thank You! Coach Ton de Hoop for sharing your insights and expertise with FUNdamental SOCCER!

 I am hoping that YOU (the reader) will join this discussion and in the process help improve some other youth soccer coaches …Priceless..!

 Finally, I pray that everyone is and will continue to be Healthy & Happy!

Your FUNdamental, Koach Karl (Karl Dewazien)

• Emeritus State DoC of California Youth Soccer Assoc. 1979-2012
• Author - FUNdamental SOCCER Books Series
• Producer - ‘FUNdamental SOCCER -Practice’ DVD.
• Clinician at: www.fundamentalsoccer.com