How to Pass a Ball in Soccer? Step-by-Step Guide to Pass Like a Pro

In this guide, I’ll teach you exactly how to pass a ball in soccer.

Passing is the heart of soccer. If you’re good at it, you can dismantle defenses with ease and help your team win games.

That’s why it’s important for you to master the fundamentals of passing before learning other skills.

In this post, you’ll learn:

• How to pass a ball in soccer
• The different types of passes in soccer
• Common mistakes to avoid when passing
• Passing drills to improve your passing
• And much more!

So, if you want to become an expert and pass like a pro, you’re in the right place!

Let’s dive straight in!

Different Types of Passes in Soccer

Before we learn how to pass a ball, let’s look at the different types of passes in soccer.

This section is VERY IMPORTANT. You always want to know what you’re learning about before getting to the practical.

So, let’s see the different types of passes in soccer and when they’re useful.

1. Ground Pass (Push Pass)

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Ground pass is the foundation of passing in soccer.

In a ground pass, you use the inside of your foot for a controlled pass along the ground.

A ground pass is useful when you’re trying to maintain possession.

It’s also useful for building attacks, and short, quick plays.

2. Lofted Pass (Lobbed Pass)

A lofted pass covers a large part of the pitch. It is usually played from the defensive line up to the attacking penalty box or across the field.

To play a lobbed pass, you hit the underside of the ball with your laces. This creates lift and gives height to the pass.

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You should play a lobbed pass when you want to switch the play or find attackers from the defense.

A lobbed pass is also useful when you don’t have a teammate near you to play a short pass.

3. Through Pass

A through pass, or ball, splits two defenders and finds a teammate running behind the defense.

It is one of the hardest passes to pull off in soccer.

A through ball requires excellent vision, timing, and power to find its target.

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You can choose to play a through ball either as a ground pass or a lobbed pass. That’s up to you and the situation.

It’s also a high-risk-high-reward pass. If successful, a through pass can create a dangerous scoring chance for the attackers.

If you want to learn about the through ball in more detail, you can read this article.

4. Cross

A cross is a lofted or ground pass delivered from wide positions into the penalty area.

It aims to find the head or feet of a teammate for a scoring chance.

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There are different types of crosses based on the situation:

• Pull-back: A low cross played backward towards the penalty spot.
• Drilled Cross: A fast and powerful cross played along the ground.
• Whipped Cross: A high, curving cross with a lot of pace.
• Looped Cross: A high, hanging cross that allows more time for attackers to get into position.

Okay, now that you know the different types of passes in soccer, let’s look at how to play these passes.

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Step-by-Step Guide on How to Pass a Ball in Soccer

In essence, every pass in soccer consists of three broad steps.

1. Positioning your body,
2. Making contact with the ball, and
3. Follow through.

How you do the sub-steps inside each of these steps determines what kind of pass you’ll play.

So with that in mind, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to pass a ball in soccer.

How to Play a Short Pass (Push Pass)

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1. Get Your Body in Position

1. Open up your hips. Open up your hips for power and better control.
2. Plant your foot. Place your non-kicking foot next to the ball, and slightly behind it. Point this foot in the direction you want the pass to go.
3. Lean in. Bend your knees and lean your body forward a bit. This adds power to your pass.

2. Prepare for the Pass

1. Swing back. Bring your kicking foot back with a small swing.
2. Lock your ankle. Keep your ankle locked for stability. Don’t take a giant wind-up; a controlled swing is key.

3. Kick the Ball

1. Use the inside of your foot. Use the laces of your inside foot (not the toes!) to strike the ball.
2. Strike the center of the ball. Aim for the center of the ball for a straight pass. Hitting off-center can cause the ball to curve or wobble.
3. Follow Through. Don’t stop your kicking motion after contact. Continue the kicking motion in the direction of your pass.

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How to Play a Lobbed Pass

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1. Get Your Body in Position

1. Before receiving the ball, identify the teammate you want to reach with the lob.
2. Plant your foot. Place your non-kicking foot next to the ball, and slightly behind it. Point this foot in the direction you want the pass to go.
3. Lean back a little. This creates space under the ball for a lofted pass. Be careful not to lean back too much.

2. Prepare for the Pass

1. Use the underside of your laces to lift the ball.
2. Aim for the lower half of the ball for optimal lift and control.
3. Lock your ankle. Maintain a firm ankle for a precise strike.
4. A good rule of thumb is to make sure your belly button is pointing toward the target.

3. Kick the Ball

1. Apply controlled force. Use a controlled amount of force to lift the ball over nearby defenders.
2. Strike the ball. Use a poking motion with your laces to scoop the ball under the middle.
3. Extend your kicking leg. Follow through in the direction you want the ball to travel.

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How to Play a Through Pass

Playing a through pass is a bit more complicated than other types of passes. Here’s how to play a through ball.

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1. Get Your Body in Position

1. Lock your target. Identify the gap in the defense where you intend to send the through pass.
2. Plant your foot. Plant your non-kicking foot beside the ball and angle your body towards your target.
3. Lean forward. This helps transfer your body weight into the pass for extra pace.

2. Prepare for the Pass

1. Predict the run. Position yourself to have a clear view of your teammate making the run behind the defensive line.
2. Choose the technique. You can use your laces for a powerful through pass. Or you can use the inside of your foot for more control.
3. Aim for the middle of the ball for a clean strike.
4. Make sure that your belly button is pointing towards the target.

3. Kick the Ball

1. Apply controlled force. Ensure that the ball travels through the gap in the defense but remains within the reach of your teammate.
2. Strike the ball. Hit the ball with a firm, decisive motion with your chosen surface.
3. Follow through. Extend your kicking leg in the direction of the pass for optimal power and accuracy.

Get a more in-depth look at through balls in soccer in this article.

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How to Play a Cross

1. Get Your Body in Position

1. Approach the ball diagonally. Run towards the ball at a diagonal angle.
2. Lock your target. Identify your target in the penalty area.
3. Open your hips sideways for power and accuracy.
4. Plant your foot. Plant your non-kicking foot beside the ball for stability.

2. Prepare for the Pass

1. Angle your non-kicking foot towards the target.
2. Choose the technique. You can use instep for an in-swinging curve. Or you can use trivela (outside of the foot) for a dipping cross.
3. Lean forward. Lean forward slightly to transfer power.
4. Point your belly button or chest towards the target.

3. Kick the Ball

1. Wrap your foot and body around the ball. This will give the pass a nice curve.
2. Strike with a whipping motion for trajectory.
3. Follow through. Extend your kicking leg towards your target.

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Different Passing Techniques in Soccer

There are several techniques with which you can strike a soccer ball. Some of them are easy to do while others are a bit more complicated.

Let’s look at the different passing techniques in soccer.

Inside of the Foot Pass

The inside of the foot pass is the most common way to make short passes in soccer. It’s also a great way to ensure that your pass is accurate.

This technique is great for quick exchanges and maintaining possession.

Here’s how to use the inside of your foot to pass a soccer ball.

Plant your non-kicking foot next to the ball and use the inside of your kicking foot to pass the ball.

Keep your ankle firm and your toes pointed slightly downward for precise control.

Outside of the Foot Pass

Outside of the foot pass is a more advanced technique. It involves using the outside of your kicking foot to create a curving pass.

This technique comes in handy when you need to

• pass the ball around an opponent or
• quickly change direction.

Outside of the foot pass also allows for quick plays in congested areas.

Here’s how to do it.

Strike the ball with the outside of your foot where the laces meet the midfoot.

You need to focus on a short backswing and a firm, controlled hit to play an accurate pass.

Toe Pass

The toe pass is effective in situations where you need a rapid short pass. It involves hitting the ball with the front part of your shoe, where your toes are.

You should NOT use a toe pass in normal game situations though. It’s very much a situational technique.

Pass the ball using your toes only when you’ve got little or no time on the ball.

Driven Pass

A driven pass is useful to get the ball from point A to B quickly. It involves using your laces to play a powerful and fast-paced pass.

A driven pass is a great way to switch the play, bypass defenders, or launch an attack.

Here’s how to do it.

Plant your non-kicking foot beside the ball. Then strike the center with the laces of your kicking foot.

You should aim for the middle to lower part of the ball to get a skimming trajectory.

This creates a low and powerful trajectory, making it hard to intercept the ball.

Watch this tutorial to learn how to play a driven pass.

Curved Pass

A curved pass is a technique in which you spin the ball to stray from a straight path. This allows you to bend the ball around your opponent.

It’s useful to bypass defenders and find teammates in tight spaces.

There are two main types of curved passes:

1. Inswinging Pass. The ball curves inwards towards the goal.
2. Outswinging pass. The ball curves outwards away from the goal.

Here’s how to do it.

Approach the ball from the side and use the inside or outside of your foot to apply spin.

Follow through is also important for a curved pass. You need to extend your kicking leg in the direction you want the ball to curve.

Watch this video tutorial on how to curve the ball in soccer.

Back Heel Pass

A backheel pass is more of a flashy way to pass the ball in soccer. It’s an unexpected way to pass the ball using the heel of your kicking foot.

It can be a great way to surprise defenders and create scoring opportunities.

A backheel pass can also be useful to break free from pressure.

The idea is simple.

You hit the ball backward with the back of your heel while your body is facing forward.

It’s a pretty advanced technique so I wouldn’t recommend using it if you’re a beginner.

Rabona Pass (SUPER ADVANCED)

A Rabona pass is so advanced that even professional players find it hard to pull off.

It involves wrapping your kicking leg around your standing leg to strike the ball.

Rabona is mostly used to show off your skills. But there are some use cases.

For instance, the rabona can be useful to surprise defenders and get out of tight spaces.

So, I won’t recommend you try the rabona in matches. But, you could still practice it to improve your ball control and footwork.

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The Best Soccer Drills to Improve Your Passing

Passing Drills for Individuals

Don’t have a partner to practice with? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

Here are some individual drills you can do to improve your passing.

Wall Passing

The wall of your house or backyard is a fantastic training partner.

Find a sturdy wall and stand a few feet away from it.

Then pass the ball against the wall using different parts of your foot – laces, in-step, and outside of the foot.

Focus on controlling the ball’s return and passing it back accurately.

This drill helps refine your passing technique and touch.

You can also make it more complex.

Mark different zones on the wall and challenge yourself to hit them consistently. You can also use a rebounder net to return the ball to you.

Here are some of the best rebounders available in the market today.

Cone Passing

You can also use cones to make your drills more dynamic.

Place cones in a straight line about 5-10 yards apart.

Dribble the ball through the cones and then pass the ball to a designated spot.

This drill enhances both your dribbling and passing skills.

Passing Accuracy Challenge

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Find an open space and set up targets or markers at different distances.

Then practice hitting the targets as much as possible. You can make it more fun by assigning points to different targets.

Also, don’t just focus on your preferred foot. Focus on improving accuracy and precision with both feet.

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Passing Drills For Groups

While there are individual drills to improve your passing, it’s better to practice in a group.

Here are some drills you can do in a group to improve your passing.

Pass and Move

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You can do the pass and move drill with one partner. But it’s better to have at least 4 players for the drill.

To start, divide all the players into pairs. Each pair gets a ball.

Pass the ball to your partner and move into a new open space.

Your partner will now pass the ball back to you and move to a new space.

Try to make quick passes while taking as little touches as possible.

The benefit of having more than one pair of players is that you also have to avoid running into the other pair. This will improve your awareness as well.

Triangle Passing

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You’ll need players in the multiples of three for this drill.

Start by forming a triangle with two other partners.

Now pass the ball between the three of you, focusing on one-touch passes. You can do it clockwise or anti-clockwise.

As you become more comfortable, increase the speed of the passes. You can make it even more complex by increasing the size of the triangle.

This drill will improve your passing and receiving skills. It will also teach you how to pass at different angles.

Long Passing Drill

Make your partner stand a significant distance away from you (30-40 yards).

Now try to make long passes to each other.

Also, try to take as little touches as possible before passing the ball back to your partner.

And use both feet and different passing techniques to pass the soccer ball.

This drill will improve your long pass accuracy and power. It will also improve your ability to receive complex passes.

Rondo

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Rondo is a classic soccer drill that develops passing under pressure.

You’ll need at least 4-5 partners for this drill.

Set up a square or circular grid with one defender in the middle. All the other players will position themselves around the grid.

The players on the outside of the grid will try to keep the ball by passing it among themselves.

Meanwhile, the defender in the middle will try to intercept the ball.

If the defender intercepts the ball, they’ll swap places with the player who lost possession. Now that player becomes the defender and the drill goes on.

You can make it harder by adding more defenders in the middle.

Diagonal Passing Drill

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Divide players into pairs.

Start by facing each other. The first player will play a square pass to the second player.

The first player then runs onto the cone ahead.

The second player will play a diagonal through ball to the first player as the first player is running to the cone.

After playing the pass, the second player starts running towards the next cone.

The first player receives the pass and plays a square pass back to the second player.

You can gradually increase the distance and add defenders in the middle.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid When Passing a Soccer Ball

Even the best players misplace a pass sometimes. But by avoiding these common mistakes, you can significantly improve your passing accuracy.

1. Passing to someone under pressure. Avoid passing the ball to a teammate who is under pressure from opponents. This can lead to turnovers and loss of possession.
2. Using too much or too little power. Overpowering or underpowering a pass can be disastrous in a soccer match. You want to make sure that you apply just the right amount of power behind your pass.
3. Striking the bottom of the ball. You should always aim to strike the middle of the ball. If you strike its bottom, it can cause the ball to bounce. This will make it hard for a teammate to control your pass.
4. Not locking the ankle. You won’t get any power on your pass if you don’t lock your ankles.
5. Leaning back too much. The ball can go way higher than intended if you lean back too much when passing.

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FAQs About How to Pass a Soccer Ball

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Thank You For Reading

So I hope you enjoyed learning how to pass a ball in soccer. If you did, then do consider sharing it with fellow soccer enthusiasts.

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What kind of pass do you like the most in soccer?

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Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below right now.

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