Passing Skills

In this lesson, students learn the fundamentals of passing the football by focusing on grip, stance, and throwing technique, with drills to enhance accuracy and distance control.
By mark
Part of SUSD 2025 - Youth Flag Football
Public

Lesson Steps

Overview
1
Grip Fundamentals
10 minutes
2
Stance and Balance
10 minutes
3
Throwing Technique
15 minutes
4
Accuracy Drill
15 minutes
5
Distance Control
15 minutes
Show All Steps

Lesson Overview

Welcome to an engaging lesson where we delve into the fundamentals of passing a football, a crucial skill in youth flag football. This lesson aims to equip students with the essential techniques needed to excel in this area, focusing on grip, stance, and throwing technique. By honing these skills, students will gain confidence and improve their ability to execute accurate and controlled passes during gameplay.

The goals of this lesson are to ensure students understand and apply the correct mechanics of passing. Students will participate in drills designed to enhance their accuracy and distance control, enabling them to make precise passes to their teammates. By the end of the lesson, students will have a solid foundation in passing skills, setting them on a path to becoming more effective players on the field.

Key Objectives

Key Objectives
  • Introduce students to the correct grip of the football, ensuring they understand how to hold the ball securely while preparing to pass.
  • Teach the proper stance and body positioning to maximize stability and power during the throw, emphasizing the importance of balance and foot placement.
  • Instruct students on the mechanics of a successful throwing technique, highlighting the arm motion, follow-through, and release point for optimal accuracy.
  • Conduct drills designed to improve passing accuracy, focusing on both short and long-distance targets to develop control and confidence.
  • Emphasize safety by teaching students how to pass the ball without putting themselves or others at risk, promoting awareness of surroundings.
  • Encourage teamwork and communication during passing drills to enhance collaborative skills and ensure a supportive learning environment.
Equipment Required
  • Footballs (suitable for youth size)
  • Cones for marking drill areas
  • Markers or flags for distance targets
  • Whistle for drill coordination
  • Water bottles for hydration
  • First aid kit for safety preparedness
Step 1 of 5

Grip Fundamentals

10 minutes

In this activity, students learn the basics of how to properly grip a football, which is crucial for effective passing. Follow these steps to guide the students:

  • Demonstrate the proper way to hold the football. Show how the fingers should be spread across the laces for optimal grip and control.
  • Emphasize the importance of grip strength and finger placement. Explain how a strong grip can improve both accuracy and distance.
  • Encourage students to practice holding the football, focusing on maintaining a firm grip while keeping the fingers comfortably placed along the laces.
  • Observe each student's grip, offering personalized feedback to ensure they are using the correct technique.

By the end of this activity, students should feel more confident in their ability to grip the football correctly, setting the foundation for effective passing skills.

1 / 5
Step 2 of 5

Stance and Balance

10 minutes

Instruct students on the essential components of a proper stance for passing the football. Emphasize the following key points:

  • Foot Placement: Position feet shoulder-width apart for a stable base. The lead foot (opposite the throwing arm) should be slightly forward.
  • Body Alignment: Align the shoulders and hips to face the target, ensuring the body is balanced and ready for the throw.
  • Knees Slightly Bent: Encourage students to keep their knees slightly bent to maintain flexibility and readiness in movement.

Have students practice holding this stance without a ball, focusing on maintaining balance and posture. Once comfortable, introduce a football and simulate the passing motion while keeping the stance intact. Rotate through the group, providing feedback and adjustments as needed.

2 / 5
Step 3 of 5

Throwing Technique

15 minutes

Guide students through the basic throwing motion, emphasizing the following key elements:

  • Elbow Position: Keep the elbow at shoulder level or slightly above to ensure a strong throw.
  • Grip: Reinforce the grip fundamentals, ensuring the ball is held securely but not too tightly.
  • Body Rotation: Rotate the torso to generate power, starting with the hips and following through with the shoulders.
  • Follow-Through: Extend the arm fully in the direction of the throw, allowing the wrist to snap naturally.

Allow students to practice the motion in slow steps without releasing the ball to build muscle memory and confidence in their technique.

3 / 5
Step 4 of 5

Accuracy Drill

15 minutes

In this activity, students focus on improving their accuracy when passing the football. Set up a target at a manageable distance for students to aim at.

  • Divide students into small groups to ensure everyone gets ample practice time.
  • Position a target, such as a cone or a hoop, at a distance suitable for the students' skill level.
  • Instruct students to aim for the center of the target, focusing on precision and consistency with each throw.
  • Encourage students to use the proper grip, stance, and throwing technique learned in previous sections.
  • As students demonstrate improved accuracy, gradually increase the target distance to challenge their skills further.
  • Provide feedback and tips to help students refine their technique and achieve better accuracy.

Remind students to remain focused and apply the skills they have practiced during the lesson to enhance their passing accuracy.

4 / 5
Step 5 of 5

Distance Control

15 minutes

In this activity, students practice controlling the distance of their throws by adjusting the power and arc. The goal is to develop an understanding of how different techniques can influence the throw's reach.

  • Divide students into pairs, with one student throwing and the other catching.
  • Set up markers at various distances to provide visual targets for students.
  • Instruct the throwing student to attempt throws at each marker, starting with the closest and gradually moving to farther targets.
  • Encourage students to adjust their throwing power and the angle of the release to reach each target accurately.
  • After a few attempts, switch roles so both students have the chance to practice throwing and catching.
  • Conclude the activity with a group discussion, where students share techniques that helped them achieve better distance control.
5 / 5
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