Why it’s important to work on front foot passing

After watching a Paul McGuinness session, FA youth coach developer, Graeme Carrick, explores the skill of front foot passing and highlights the benefits of players using this technique.
Passing using the front foot is an effective, though often under-used, skill. Generally, a good pass is one which puts the team in a better position, particularly for the teammate receiving it. This requires the ball carrier to play the pass accurately and smoothly, at the right time, at the right speed and in the best possible place to allow the receiving teammate to carry out their next action efficiently – all while deceiving the opponents.

While passing with the inside of the foot is often the most common approach, front foot passing is also an effective skill, particularly when travelling with the ball.

As front foot passing may not be as culturally engrained or perhaps not as natural, players may, at first, find it strange or uncomfortable to try. However, with encouragement, it can quickly lead to improvement and more possibilities for them in the game.

Tip: an important tip for this type of skill is for the toes to be pointed down while tightening your ankle for a good connection with the ball.

Front foot passing has many benefits, including:

• It's harder for defenders to anticipate due to the passer needing to use little back lift of the foot when playing the ball.
• Players can get closer to defenders before passing, helping to take them out of the game. 
• Players can pass forward without breaking stride, making it more natural to create a flowing move. 
• The ball carrier can play different angled passes when opportunities emerge. 

Being comfortable and capable of playing front foot passes can help players to entice opponents by dragging or rolling the ball, and keeping the ball close, to then play a pass without giving the defender time to respond. These are essential skills when playing in tight areas of the pitch, particularly when attacking in and around the box. 

Developing skill through games Playing games is a great way of developing a skill – if the atmosphere leads towards a culture of skill. Being skilful is as much about the feeling and mindset of being skilful as it is about the act of performing a skill. As a coach, you can create the conditions that invite skilful play.

In the video below, FA national coach developer, Paul McGuinness, chose to insist on players using the front foot to pass the ball. He did this to increase their repetition of the skill and to encourage the players to break their existing habits by making them try something different.