The Passing Name Game Warm-up

Chris Johnson 129,532 Views Rating 4 (44 Reviews)

The objective of this soccer drill is to help young players improve the speed of play by thinking a step-ahead of the play.

Soccer Drill Diagram: The Passing Name Game Warm-up

The Soccer Passing Name Game Warm-Up

This soccer pass game will help younger players improve the speed of play by thinking a step ahead of the play.
Drill Setup

  1. Form a circle with each of the players on your team.
  2. Start with one ball.
Drill Instructions

  1. To play the name game, the player with the ball passes to a player.
  2. Before the receiving player receives the pass, they must yell the name of the next player in which they are going to pass.
  3. Upon the next player receiving the ball, they must yell the name of the next player in which they are going to pass.
  4. This is designed to make the players think a step ahead of the play.
  5. Make sure that each player has at least two touches on the ball; one touch to receive the pass, and the other touch to make the pass.
  6. Encourage players not to make a pass back to the player they received the pass from, and to pass to different people each time.
Drill Variations

  • Create a grid and play the same game as above except players are free to move about the grid.
  • Add a second ball.
Drill Coaching Points

  • Remind players to be thinking ahead to determine who they want to pass.
  • Good first touch
  • Quality passes

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