Youth Soccer Passing Drill

When it comes to passing in youth soccer, the "push pass" is one of the basic soccer fundamentals every player should learn. Most youth soccer players can learn this technique when they reach the ages of 8 to 10 years old. Learning to pass quickly and efficiently allows for clean breakouts from your own end of the field, swift counterattacks at midfield, and fast breaks to the opponents goal.

Below is a detailed description and soccer drill for the push pass, but you can also find more free soccer passing drills online at websites like Weplay.com.

How to Master the Soccer "Push Pass"

* Sometimes referred to as the instep pass, the push pass is performed using the inside of the foot along the arch.

* As the soccer player approaches the ball, they will plant their non-kicking foot roughly 12 inches to the side with the knee slightly bent and the toes pointed towards the target.

* The kicking foot is turned outward from the body with the ankle locked. Swinging the leg from the hip pivot, the soccer ball is to be struck in the center with the side of the foot.

* Allowing the leg to follow through the swivel of the hips will add more power into the pass.

* Keep the arms out towards the sides for balance throughout the passing motion.

What to Watch For

* If the soccer pass is getting some air instead of staying on the ground, the player is kicking too low on the ball.

* Inaccurate soccer passes are normally the result of the toes of the plant foot being pointed in the wrong direction or the ankle of the kicking foot not being locked.

Soccer Drills for Practicing the Push Pass

Soccer Ball Tag

This is a simple soccer drill that can be performed at the beginning of a practice as a warm-up or at the end.

* Set up your youth soccer players inside a grid within the pitch.
* Two players are designated as "it."
* Add two soccer balls into the mix
* A player in possession of the ball cannot be tagged "it." Only players without possession can be tagged.
* A player cannot keep possession of the soccer ball, it must be continuously passed and received.
* Players who have possession will pass to those in jeopardy of being tagged in order to provide them safety.
* Other players will try to avoid the taggers while keeping their head up and calling for a pass.
* When a player is tagged they become "it" while the tagger takes their place.