Passing from the ground up

WHY USE IT

By focusing initially on just the arms and hands, you can ingrain the right body movements for proper passing actions, and then put the passer under pressure.

set up

One ball between three players, and a 5m square.

how to play it

Ask the players to line up 5m apart, as if they were passing the ball along the line. The player in the middle lays on their back. The standing player passes the ball to the player on the ground, who then passes to the next player, who is standing. Then go back in the other direction (see top illustration). At first, players will try to push the ball – as in a basketball chest pass – but reinforce that they must pass in the same way as if they were standing up. Then, get the middle player to kneel or sit while passing (see middle illustration). Increase the realism by adding a defender, and asking the middle player to first walk, and then run, to the ball before passing (see bottom illustration).

coaching points

• Hands out to receive the ball.
• Pass the ball across the body and release it to the next player.
• Hands pointed towards the receiving player. It will go to the left or right of the receiver if they do not.

1. Put three players about 5m apart, with the middle player on the ground

2. The middle player takes a pass from the first player

3. Using just their arms, they pass it onto the next player

1. The middle player kneels or sits to make the pass

1. Put this into a game context by asking the middle player to run on to the pass, and then pass accurately

2. Further develop by asking a defender to come forward to pressurise the pass