Football passing drills

1. Pass and follow diamond

Short passing accuracy and weight of pass

Set up

A 10-yard diamond with two players at each cone. Pass to the next cone, then follow your pass and join the back of that queue.

Coaching points

Inside of the foot, firm weight, pass to the player's front foot.

Make it harder

Add a second ball, then reverse the direction on a coach call.

2. Y-shape combination

Passing and receiving on the half turn

Set up

A midfielder receives from a server, opens up and plays out to a wide player on either arm of the Y before rotating.

Coaching points

Open the hips before the ball arrives, first touch out of your feet, scan early.

Make it harder

Add a passive defender behind the midfielder, then make them live.

3. Rondo 5v2

Passing under pressure

Set up

Five players on the edge of a 12x12 yard square keep the ball away from two defenders. Ten passes scores a point.

Coaching points

Move the defender with your first pass, use disguise, always offer two angles.

Make it harder

Limit to two touches, then one touch for the outside players.

4. Switch the play

Longer passing and changing the point of attack

Set up

A 30x25 yard pitch split into two vertical channels. A team scores a point for every pass that travels from one channel to the other.

Coaching points

Look up before you receive, drive the ball with your laces, receive on the back foot.

Make it harder

Two points if the switch happens in fewer than three passes.

5. Gate passing race

Passing into space and communication

Set up

Scatter cone gates across a 25x25 yard area. Pairs pass through as many different gates as possible in 90 seconds.

Coaching points

Call your partner's name, angle the body, pass in front so they can run onto it.

Make it harder

Only count gates passed through while both players are moving.

6. Third-man run

Combination play

Set up

Groups of three: player A passes to B who sets it back to A, who plays a forward pass into C running through.

Coaching points

Set the ball back at pace, time the run so you arrive as the pass is struck.

Make it harder

Add a defender pressing player B to force quicker decisions.

7. Possession with target players

Playing forward at the right moment

Set up

6v6 in a 35x30 yard box with a target player in an end zone at each end. Score by passing into your target and getting the return.

Coaching points

Be patient in possession, spot the moment to break lines, support the target instantly.

Make it harder

Restrict the target player to one touch.

8. Passing pattern to finish

Passing into a shooting chance

Set up

A three-pass pattern out from the halfway line into a wide area, then a cross or cut back for a finish.

Coaching points

Pass with intent, quality first touch, arrive at pace in the box.

Make it harder

Add one recovering defender so the pattern must be executed quickly.

What are the best football passing drills?

The best passing drills combine repetition with decisions: a pass-and-follow diamond or Y-shape for technique, a rondo for passing under pressure, and a possession game so players choose when to pass forward. Finish with a pattern that ends in a shot so passing has a purpose.

How do I coach the weight of a pass?

Use gates and target areas so the pass has a clear finish point, then give players feedback on whether their partner had to stretch or wait. Cue the non-kicking foot position and ask for a firm inside-foot pass along the ground.

What passing drills work with only a few players?

Pairs work brilliantly: gate passing, pass and move over 8-10 yards, and a wall or rebound board for one-touch repetition. With three players you can run set-and-turn and third-man-run patterns.

At what age should passing drills start?

From U7 or U8 with simple pairs passing through gates over short distances. Longer passing and switching play generally suit U11 upwards, once players can strike the ball firmly with the laces.