27 Soccer Passing Drills Every Coach Needs in Their Toolkit

12. Manchester United Passing

How the Drill Works:

One player works inside the square while three players move along the outside. The outside players alternate passing two soccer balls to the middle player who must receive one at a time and pass it to the outside player without the soccer ball.

Purpose:

Develop awareness and decision-making speed in a technical passing activity. Players must be able to find the open player and play quickly before receiving the next pass.

Diagram:

Setup:

• • Set up a 15×15-yard square for every four players.
  • Have the players split into groups of four. Each group should have two soccer balls.
  • Three players in each group start on three separate corners of the square.
  • The fourth player in each group starts in the middle of the square.
  • Each player should complete at least two, two-minute rounds as the middle player. Add more rounds and time as needed.

Instructions:

1. The outside player, with the soccer ball, standing next to the open cone, passes to the player in the middle and then runs along the line to the open cone next to them.
2. The middle player receives the pass, quickly identifies where the outside player without a soccer ball is and completes a pass to that player.
3. As soon as the middle player completes the pass, the second ball is passed into the middle player before the passer runs along the line to the open cone. The middle player identifies the outside player without a soccer ball and completes a pass to that player.
4. Players work for two-minutes in the middle of the square before rotating positions with an outside player.
5. Each player should complete at least two, two-minute rounds. Add more rounds and time as needed.

Variations:

Weak foot – Players can only use their weak foot to pass and receive.

Touch limit – Players must complete the pattern in two-touches.

Passes in the air – Players on the outside toss, with their hands, passes, in the air, to the middle player. Players in the middle must receive the pass out of the air and complete a pass to the open outside player on the ground.

Coaching Points:

• • Insist the players stay focused throughout the activity. Players should think ahead and find the open player before receiving a pass to increase their speed of play.
  • Instruct players to give sharp, firm passes to their teammates.
  • Challenge the players with passing distances by varying the size of the square.
  • Encourage the players to decrease the time it takes from their first touch to their second touch. This will increase their speed of play.