A successful soccer team can be characterized as 11 individuals playing as one unit. Passing and receiving skills form the vital thread that connects the individual parts of the team, the players, into a smoothly functioning whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. The ability to pass the ball accurately and at the correct pace is essential for successful attacking combinations. Equally important is the ability to receive and control balls arriving on the ground and through the air. All players, including the goalkeeper, should become competent in passing and receiving the ball under the game pressures of movement, physical and mental fatigue, and the determined challenge of opponents. As a general rule, players should pass the ball along the ground rather than through the air. Ground passes are easier to control and can be played with greater accuracy than lofted passes. Three basic techniques—inside of the foot, outside of the foot, and the instep—are employed for ground passes. Despite the obvious advantages of ground passes, certain situations dictate that the ball be played through the air. For example, an opponent might be blocking the passing lane between the player on the ball and a teammate stationed in a dangerous attacking position. Or a player might want to serve the ball to a teammate sprinting into open space behind the opponent's defense. In such situations the ball can be lofted (chipped) through the air.
Each passed ball should be received and controlled by a teammate. Ground balls are generally controlled with either the inside or outside surface of the foot. Balls taken directly out of the air can be received with the instep, thigh, chest, or, in rare instances, the head. In all cases, the player should withdraw the receiving surface as the ball arrives to cushion the impact and provide a soft target. A player's first touch of the passed ball as it arrives is the most important touch. Players who read the pressure correctly and control the ball into the space away from a challenging opponent afford themselves additional space and time to initiate their next movement. Conversely, players who touch the ball into pressure are more likely to lose possession. Proper positioning of the body as the ball is controlled is also important for maintaining possession, particularly when an opponent is trying to win the ball. Emphasize these points in all passing and receiving exercises.
The games in this section focus on the development of common passing and receiving techniques, although other soccer skills are rehearsed as well. The overriding objective of each game is for players to become more competent and confident in performing these skills. In short, players should become more comfortable on the ball. Modify the games to emphasize specific passing and receiving skills. You can also easily adapt them to accommodate the age, ability, and physical maturity of your players.
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