Bounce Pass Series
Deliver accurate bounce passes past a defender.
What this drill teaches
An accurate bounce pass with a real aiming point — two-thirds of the way there — and a defender-shaped obstacle to beat. The chair makes 'keep it low' concrete: the pass either sneaks past it or it doesn't.
In games: The bounce pass is how young teams feed cutters and beat pressure — this fixes the floaty, chest-high 'bounce' pass that defenders pick off all game.
- The ball bouncing about two-thirds of the way to the partner
- A step in and thumbs down on release
- Passes staying low past the chair, under imaginary hands
U8: no defender — just hit a cone placed two-thirds of the way. U12: expect a high fake before the bounce and passes that lead a cutting partner.
Equipment
1 ball per pair, chair/cone
Setup
Partners about 4 metres apart with one ball, and a chair or cone standing between them as the defender.
Steps
- 1Two-hand bounce passes — aim ⅔ of the way there.
- 2One-hand push bounce passes each hand.
- 3Bounce it past the chair between you — low and out of a defender's reach.
- 4Step and lead your partner each time.
Coaching points
- Aim for a spot two-thirds to your partner.
- Step into it, thumbs down.
- Keep it low — under where a defender's hands would be.
Why kids love it
The bounce pass beats defenders — kids love threading it through.
Variations
Passer must fake high, then bounce.
Take the defender out and just hit a cone placed two-thirds of the way to your partner.
After each bounce pass the passer cuts to a new spot so the pass has to lead a moving target.