Passing Mechanics

Body positioning: 

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and your non-kicking foot next to the ball. 

Your toes should point in the direction you want to pass. 

​

• Lock your ankle: 

      For an instep pass, flex your passing foot at the ankle up and slightly back. 

​

• Aim with your planted foot: 

      The direction you play the ball is determined by where your planted foot is. 

​

• Use the inside of your foot: 

      The "inside of the foot" or "push" pass is the most basic pass in soccer. 

​

• Practice with both feet

 

 

Pass Receiving Mechanics:

 

   1. Ankle locked, toe up, raise foot an inch or so off the ground. You want your toe up to provide more surface area for the ball to hit. If your toe is down, less of your foot will touch the ball increasing the chance you will mess up your touch.

   2. Position inside of your foot to the incoming ball.

   3. Push ball forward or cushion ball in. If the ball is coming soft then you want to push the ball forward a little bit. If the ball is coming really hard at you then cushion the ball in and try to take some of the pace out of the ball. So right as it hits you bring your leg back. Think of catching an egg on this one. Do you catch an egg and just let it hit your hands? No, you cradle and cushion it in. Same applies with a fast coming soccer ball.

   4. Touch sets up pass, dribble or shot. Typically if no defenders are around you want to take a touch a few steps in front of you towards your dominant foot so your next touch is a pass or a shot. Every situation is different so it's up to you to decide how close or far to take your touch.