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PassingFirst Touch

Passing Square Drill

This drill builds clean, accurate passing combined with an open first touch that sets the next pass in motion — the two habits that make possession soccer possible.

Age RangeAges 7+
Duration8–10 minutes
Group SizeGroups of 4
SportSoccer

Equipment Needed

  • 4 cones per group
  • 1–2 balls per group

Setup

  • Four cones set in a square roughly 12 by 12 yards, one player at each cone.
  • One or two balls start at opposite corners for continuous movement.
Passing Square DrillABCD12 x 12 yd square, one player per conePass to the right, follow it, take an open first touch

Instructions

  1. Player passes to the corner on their right, then follows their pass and jogs to that corner.
  2. The receiving player takes an open first touch to control the ball before passing it along.
  3. Continue rotating around the square for 2 minutes, then reverse direction.
  4. Introduce a second ball once the group is comfortable to increase tempo and decision-making.
Coaching Points
  • First touch should move the ball away from the defender's side (even in this unopposed drill, build the habit).
  • Pass with the inside of the foot for accuracy over power at this stage.
  • Communicate the pass — call the receiving player's name before the ball arrives.
  • Keep heads up between touches to build the scanning habit early.

Variation

Switch to one-touch passing once the group is proficient, or add a target player in the middle of the square to receive and lay off passes.

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