Practising different types of pass with Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso explains that there is no such thing as a single ‘perfect’ pass, but rather a pass suited to each situation in the match. Just as a golfer chooses a different club depending on the shot they need, a footballer must master a range of techniques. Here you can watch a video in Spanish on this topic:
Long pass: changing the game with precision
The long pass is used to find teammates further away or to quickly change the direction of the attack.
The key techniques are:
- Keep your standing foot firm and close to the ball to ensure stability.
- Strike the ball with the instep or laces to achieve a powerful and clean pass.
- Do not lean your body too far back, as this causes the ball to gain height and lose speed.
- Aim for a crisp strike: it is not about pushing the ball, but about striking it correctly.
An important point: your shoulders also direct the pass. The position of your body helps guide the ball towards where you want to play it.
Trick pass: getting past the defence
This type of pass is used when we want to play the ball behind a defensive line or find a tight space.
Unlike a powerful long pass:
- It is struck more with the inside of the foot.
- The body can lean back slightly to give the ball more height.
- The foot follows the ball’s trajectory more closely to create spin.
It is a precision pass, ideal for linking up with a teammate making a run into space.
Fast ball: speed to break through the defence
Xabi Alonso’s ‘quick pass’ aims to get the ball to a teammate as quickly as possible when there are no opponents in the way.
The key here is:
- A crisp strike.
- A low, flat pass with no spin.
- Generating power from the hips and the standing foot.
- Using the instep to make the ball travel faster.
Practising the perfect long pass with Toni Kroos
Toni Kroos focuses on one fundamental idea: the speed of the pass begins before you strike the ball.
His first key point is control.
A good first touch should set up the pass straight away. If you need to control the ball, reposition it and then pass, you lose seconds – and in top-flight football, those seconds make all the difference. Have a look at this video in Spanish:
Flat pass: quick and easy to control
Kroos’s most characteristic pass is that long ball which seems to float but arrives quickly and cleanly.
The key points:
- The ball mustn’t rise too high: the higher it goes, the longer it takes to reach its destination.
- Technique is more important than power.
- The strike should aim for a steady flight to make it easier for the teammate to control the ball.
- The body must be balanced and ready before impact.
The aim is not to play a spectacular ball, but a useful one.
Trick pass: as described by Kroos
Kroos distinguishes another technique: the curving pass.
He uses it when:
- He needs to get past a nearby opponent.
- There is no space to set up a flat pass.
- The ball needs to land behind a defensive line.
Here, the foot follows the movement more closely to put spin on the ball.
Exercise to practise passing
You can practise these passes with a simple routine:
- 10 tight, long passes, focusing on accuracy.
- 10 passes with spin, aiming to land the ball in a marked area.
- 10 changes of direction, aiming for the ball to arrive quickly and low.
- Repeat with your weaker foot.
The key isn’t to strike the ball harder, but to ensure that every pass gives your teammate an advantage.
And don’t forget that it’s your foot that counts, but a good pair of boots always helps. Here are the best football boots to help you master your passing:
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