FineSoccer Kids 23

Welcome to the FineSoccer Kids Newsletter. Today's subject will deal with square passes.

For those of you who don't know what a square pass is, it's a pass that is hit parallel to the goal line. In other words, a ball that is played to a player that goes in the direction of either of the sidelines (for other soccer definitions, please go to http://finesoccer.com/glossary.htm)

The dangers in playing a square pass is that if intercepted, two players are out of the play right away. What I mean by this is that if Player A makes a square pass to Player B and Player C from the opposing team intercepts the ball and pushes the ball forward with her first touch, she is already past both Players A and B. Like everything in soccer, it's important to look at the risk vs. the reward of the square pass. The risk is that an interception of the pass results in two players getting beat every time. The reward of a successful square pass is possession and maybe the switching of fields. Considering the risk can result in a scoring opportunity for the opposing team and the possible reward doesn't involve the creation of a scoring opportunity for your team, in most cases the rewards of the square pass do not justify the risks.

Instead of playing a square pass, you can play a behind square or an in front of square pass. A behind square pass is one where the receiver is a few yards behind where she would be for a square pass. The advantage of this position is that if the pass is intercepted, the receiver is still behind the opponent who won the ball and can get goal side much easier than if she had been in a square position.

An in front of square pass is also safer because if intercepted, the player who made the pass is still behind the ball and can probably get into a goal side position much easier.

This isn't to say that square passes should never be hit (although there are some coaches who do say this) but rather, that you need to know the risks and rewards of such a pass and plan accordingly. If you are going to hit a square pass, you need to make SURE that it's hit safely and gets to its intended target. Also, you should make sure that you have some support behind in case of a mistake.

To see how to defend a wall pass, check out http://finesoccer.com/soccer_edition_103.htm 

Any comments, questions or suggestions should be sent to kidscomments@finesoccer.com. 

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Have a great day!

Lawrence