Anatomy Of Football’s ‘Perfect Pass’

Keep these thoughts in mind and I believe you’ll see a big improvement in your passing game!

Courtesy: Giphy

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a professional football player, play for a school team, or you’re kicking the ball around in a grassroots game. I believe reading this article can improve your passing game.

As a former player and, now as a coach, I understand the importance of passing in football.

I’ve found that there are three things to keep in mind when it comes to making a perfect pass:

1. The signal (communication) from the player who wants the pass or the player to whom you are passing the ball.
2. The timing of the pass from the passer, and
3. The pace of the pass from the passer.

Signal

The signal is very important, especially in relation to the situation of a game. What type of pass does your teammate want? A ground ball or a high ball? On the run? How far ahead? Directly at the feet? If so, which foot? At the chest or head?

Signals come in different forms, such as eye contact, verbal communication, and movement. It takes a few seconds to process and understanding signals before making a decision to pass.

In executing a perfect pass, players must make sure they translate signals correctly. Otherwise–especially if a pass is forced–it will be a bad pass.

Timing

Getting the timing right is a big problem in youth football. Young players need to understand that they need time and space to execute a perfect pass. Are you giving the pass at the right time within the moment of the game? Did you release the ball too late?

To me, these questions are very important. If the timing of a pass isn’t synchronized with the speed of play within the moment of the game, then it will turn out to be a bad pass.

Pace

Even if a player gives up the ball in the right way and at the right time, there’s still the matter of pace. Was the pace of the pass too weak? Was it too strong? Either way and the pass will not be successful.

Pace is especially crucial in transition, during a counter attack, and within the final third of the field.

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Here’s one final recommendation. My advice to you as a player is that you’re not obliged to give a pass just because a player calls for it. You have the option of giving up or not giving up the ball. But, if you decide to give up the ball, it has to done properly–done at the right time within the moment of the game and with accurate pace. Otherwise, the player won’t be able to execute the next move correctly.

Keep these thoughts in mind and I believe you’ll see a big improvement in your passing game!