Aerial & Long Passing

Details: Parent Category: Soccer Passing Drills 12-15yrs; Category: Passing and Control

Session

Session: AO.096

Exercise Objectives

Organisation

Diagram 1. Set-Up Arrangement

Set-Up

Instructions

Two players combine from one colour team and then play an aerial pass to the same colour players on the other side of the playing area. The combination, pass and control touches are all unopposed.
The ball should be played over the central area without bouncing inside this area.
The receiving players should use aerial control techniques to control the ball.
The pass distances should be approximately between 30-40 yrds.
Progress to have the receiving player pass one time into their partner, (i.e. aerial pass with no control touch).
Very advanced players can progress to perform this drill without the ball touching the ground at all.
B1 passes to B2 instep firm pass.
B2 lays off a pass that B1 is able to step up to.
B2 plays a long aerial pass at one of the two players of the same colour on the opposite side of the playing area (i.e. B4).

Scoring

Coaching Points

Quality lofted passes that are controllable (chipped, clipped).
Discuss the contact point on the ball, bottom half.
Discussed curve and backspin and how to generate those.
Discuss the foot positioning of the kicking foot (i.e. locked ankle, toe under the ball).
None kicking foot placement at the side or slightly behind the ball.
Control touches should be cushioned in with the foot (instep or outstep), chest or thigh.
Movement of supporting player to get a good angle to support for a one touch pass.
Quick passing on the combination prior to the long aerial pass.

Progressions

Two teams now play possession together whilst one defends (i.e. Red in Diagram 2). Teams maintain possession in the end zones until there is an opportunity to play a long aerial pass to the team waiting at the other end of the playing area. The defending team has two defenders that can enter the end zones to press (once the ball has entered) and two which must remain in the central zone, but are still able to block passes. If the defending team looses the ball they switch roles with the team that gave away possession. A point is scored for transferring the ball from one end zone to the other successfully.

Diagram 2. Progression 1

4vs4 directional game with one team (4 players) acting as two wingers (Y1,Y2) and two target players (Y3,Y4). The wing players play one touch (depending on ability). Score 2 points by passing into the target end players from a teams defending half (i.e. a pass from behind the half way line, as shown below). You can require that the ball does not bounce before the target player controls. Score 1 point for a regular pass into a target player (Y1,Y2).

Diagram 3. Progression (4vs4)+4 SSG

Variations