How to Coach Wall Passes in Soccer

The wall pass (or the give-and-go) is one of the most effective passing techniques in soccer, as well as a variety of other sports, that can quickly and efficiently knock out a defender and give the offense a chance to make a play. An effective wall pass requires technique and timing--it is a pass that needs to be properly coached in order for players to see successful results. In indoor soccer, the wall pass involves one player and the wall, in outdoor soccer, a second player is, in essence, the wall in this pass, so it requires two teammates to be completely in sync for success.

Things You'll Need

  • Soccer ball
  • Two cones
  • Soccer field sideline
  • Offensive and defensive players
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up the play. In order to properly coach wall passes in soccer, you must first set up the play. Give both the offense and defense an idea of proper placement in order to achieve a successful wall pass. The wall pass involves two offensive players and one defensive player. The object of the wall pass is for one offensive player to pass the ball to another. The second offensive player will immediately pass the ball back to the first offensive player, which will eliminate the defensive player from the equation.

    • 2

      Practice stationary passes. Set up two cones on the field. At first, it is better for the coach to act as the wall (especially for younger players), so that they are able to carry out the play successfully. The defensive player will be stationary, and the offensive player will practice passing and receiving from "the wall." Offensive players will start at the first cone, pass the ball to the wall, then run to the second cone where they will then receive the wall pass. Run each player through this stationary pass several times so that they can get an idea of how it works.

    • 3

      Replace the wall. Once the players have an idea of how the pass works, replace the coach with one of the team players. Rotate each team member through so that they can be both the wall and the passer.

    • 4

      Practice on the fly. Now that they have the logistics down, it's time to practice the pass on the run. This pass requires both timing and technique. The players must get this timing down so that they can successfully pass the ball. The coach should once again become the wall at first to get the players in the motion of the pass. The offensive player should dribble the ball up the field, while a defensive player should come in to try to steal the ball. The offensive player, using their left foot, should then pass the ball to the wall, sprint forward, and receive the ball once again. While the offensive player passes with his left foot, the wall should receive the ball with his right foot. To achieve this, proper timing is necessary. Run the players through this drill several times so that they may practice their timing.

    • 5

      Replace the wall once again. Once the players get their timing down, it is time to work on communication. Replace the coach with another team player, and run through the drill. Players should be communicating with each other in order to set up the pass successfully. Have players rotate through all three positions to get a feel for how the pass works from all angles. Defensive players should try to intercept the pass at this point, but since they are aware of how the drill works, practicing on the move will force the defense to concentrate on the ball in order to steal it away.

    • 6

      Scrimmage. The last step is to incorporate this pass into game play. Have the team players scrimmage each other with the specific intent to practice this pass. Require each player to perform the pass a certain number of times before stopping play. This will give them the ultimate experience in incorporating this successful pass into normal game play.