Reader,
Passing and receiving the football is arguably the most important skill in the game. Players who can receive with quality, buy themselves time on the ball, and releasing the ball over various distances of both feet is a core skill. So how do we go about developing these attributes? This week, we’ve decided to share five of our top passing and receiving practices from the PDP Session Plan Library.
Playing Through & Around
In this practice, PDP Coaching Advisor, James Coutts shares a live session which includes an interference passing and receiving warm up and a more structured practice which challenges players to play through or around. Again, this session is easily adapted for different numbers and provides players on the ball an opportunity to practice with limited pressure.
Short Passing 4v4+2
In this session, top Australian professional coach, Ric Marchioli leads an opposed positional game using 10 players. Set up as a 4v4+2, this practice is delivered in tight spaces, encouraging ball speed and quick decision making from the players.
4v4+4 Positional Game
Positional games are one of my favourite activities, and a core practice I like to include with players every week. In this practice, you’ll see a 4v4+4 which encourages short passing, speed of decision and quick transition. Players are tasked with receiving between, beyond and beneath their opponents to progress forward.
Passing under pressure
In this practice, you’ll see an opposed passing and receiving practice which focuses on short, quick passing and rewards the defending team with possession if they effectively defend outnumbered. This practice is easily adapted for different playing numbers, includes some good physical outcomes and encourages players to decide whether to play through or around their opponent.
Forward Passing/Receiving on the Back Foot
This practice is excellent for small groups of 6 – 10 players and encourages central players to get in positions to open up, receive on the back foot and play forward. This can be really useful for position specific work and gives players high repetition of passing and receiving with an overload in their favour.
Two things to consider.
- Consider the trade offs of delivering unopposed or opposed passing practice. The more opposed the task, the more difficult (but realistic) it may be.
- Understand the importance of developing the feel of the ball, and getting success. The practice spectrum allows us to move from unopposed work to fully opposed and at times, players will need to experience both.
One thing for you to try this week.
If you don’t normally deliver positional games, give it a go. This 4v4+2 Positional Game is a great start. These can be enormously valuable and given the team in possession will usually have an overload, they will still have a chance to experience success while participating in a practice that is realistic and includes decision-making.
One critical resource on the topic.
For more great passing and receiving practices, check out this blog by PDP Coaching Advisor James Coutts, which includes six simple passing and receiving practices.
