Passing
& Football
Short pass
Passing is a technique that allows the ball
to travel up field. In doing this, your opponents will find
it more difficult to gain control of the ball.
An accurate pass can be performed through the
help of the sidefoot, the area located on the inside of the
foot. However, passing may be risky since the opponent can
immediately know where or to whom you intend to give the ball.
At the same time, the player may find it difficult to produce
enough power for a successful pass. Because of these reasons,
passing is a skill best used for making the ball travel through
short distances. This move is called a short pass.
If you want to do a short pass, you must have sufficient space
for the kicking leg to swing through. To accomplish this,
you must ensure that you proceed to the ball with an angle
of around 30 degrees.
In preparation for the kick, you must make sure
that your non-kicking foot is right beside the ball. Using
your arms for balance, you must make sure that your head is
still while your eyes are focused on the ball. With your ankle
firm, you must swing your kicking foot with the aim of using
the side of the foot to hit the ball's centre. This motion
will ensure that the ball will roll steadily on the ground,
instead of launching into the air.
Since this pass keeps the ball moving on low
ground, it will be easier for your team mate to receive the
ball. The pass is also greatly dependent on the amount of
weight you apply on your kick.
Consequently, the weight you apply to the ball
depends on the distance between you and your team mates who
will receive the ball.
The position of your opponents is also significant
in determining how much weight you need to put on the pass.
Meanwhile, the power of the kick may be improved
by making sure that kicking leg follows through with the ball.
As you practice, you will become better at determining
how much power and weight you need in order to make a successful
pass.
Bending
With their ability to change the direction of
an airborne ball, players like Ronaldinho of Barcelona and
David Beckham of England often give the goalkeepers a difficult
time.
Learning to bend the ball in both directions
will ensure that you always have a surprise tactic against
your opponents.
To bend the ball, you must approach it at an
angle, making sure that your standing foot ends up at an adequate
distance (from the ball).
While free kicks and other deadball situations
are ideal for practicing this skill, you should also learn
how to perform it while in motion. You must use this ability
to curl a shot or a pass during an open play.
A kick delivered to the right side of the ball's
bottom half will let you successfully curve the ball from
right to left. On the other hand, striking the ball with the
outside of your foot will make the ball change direction from
left to right. This move will also require you to aim your
kicking leg at the bottom half of the ball’s left side.
In both cases, your follow through on the kick
should not be aimed at your target location. This is because
your foot is cutting across the back of the ball instead of
hitting its centre.
Driving
You must approach the ball in the same way you
would begin a short sidefoot pass.
Position yourself on a 30 degree angle against
the ball, ensuring that your kicking leg has enough space
to swing through. Using your arms for balance, you must make
sure that your head is still while your eyes are focused on
the ball.
Make sure that your knee is positioned right
over the ball and avoid leaning back. This posture will ensure
that the ball will remain low once it is kicked.
With your toes pointing downwards, you must then use your
instep to hit the centre of the ball.
A follow through from the kicking leg will increase
the power of your strike.