Pass (soccer tactic)

A pass (from English pass = passage, transition and French passer = to exceed, passage, passage) is understood in football to be the passing of the ball (also called "template" ) to a player of the own team .

Passes are played to bring the team in possession closer to the goal of the game to score a goal . The intention can be, for example, to get into a favorable position to shoot at goal, to get closer to the opposing goal ("gain space"), to stay in possession of the ball with your own team ("ball lock"), to avoid tackling opposing players (pass as an alternative to dribbling ), playing the opponent tired, etc.

In a different meaning (and in short form) the player pass is also referred to as 'pass' .

Understanding the passing game

The passing game is an essential element of tactics in soccer. “The success of a football team depends on timely [timing], exact [precision] and the right temperature [sharp / subtle] play. With the variety of possibilities [flat / high, sharp / soft, with / without spin, surprising / signaled], the [...] experienced player can solve almost any game situation. "

Success criteria for the passing game

Successful passing game includes: a .:

The time, direction and type of pass is determined by the player to be played - not the man on the ball ("game without ball"; "the path determines the pass")
Playing passes in a variety of ways: steep / across, flat / high, forwards / backwards, ...
Always pass when possible, dribble only when necessary
Playback and acceptance of the ball as possible during the run, i.e. play before, not on the player
If possible, pass to the shooting leg of the teammate

Packing was presented in 2016 as a statistical indicator for the skill level of players or teams , a method that essentially measures the effectiveness of passes.

Passing timing

The timing, especially important in the passing game

For the passing game, in addition to the accuracy of the pass, timing is of the utmost importance. The passer in particular must take several factors into account: From his and the current position of the person to be played and any opponent as well as their potential path, he must select the correct play time and angle (including possible curve effect) and the ball with the appropriate shooting technique and strength (determines the ball speed) play in such a way that it reaches your teammate at the right time (or vice versa). Other factors are e.g. B. the condition of the ground (wetness, evenness and depth, height of the lawn, ...), the wind conditions, the speed of the players and opponents involved, possible offside positions, etc. Experienced players can do this intuitively and recognize possible pass opportunities early on.

Examples, see graphic:

With a diagonal pass , the passer is usually attacked by an opponent who also tries to prevent the pass. The defensive player can no longer reach the ball played - possibly after a feint, possibly with a right twist (by a shot with the right outside span or left inside span ), but the teammate a little later.

A striker uses his defender's 'moment of shock' to storm towards the goal. His small lead is enough for his teammate to play a sharp cross pass that the defender can no longer achieve, but a short time later the striker.

Shot techniques for the passing game

In football there are essentially the following shot variants for the passing game:

Inside kick: The inside kick is played with the wide inside of the foot. This is the most common push used in passing. It is not particularly hard but very precise over short and medium distances.
Outside kick: In the outside kick, the ball is played with the wide outside of the foot. Since it requires little preparation, it can be used quickly and surprisingly. This impact is suitable for short distances.
Inside tension: In an inside tension, the ball is played with the inside tension . This joint is ideal for precisely bridging long distances.
Outside span: In the outside span, the ball is played with the outside span . This form requires above-average technical skills in order to be able to play the ball precisely over a long distance to the teammate. Usually the ball is given a trajectory that curves outwards and a spin .
Heel kick: The ball is played with the heel and is mainly used for surprising short passes in the back of the current direction of play.
Full instep: The full instep is played with the instep and is mainly used for hard shots, rarely for precise passes.
The “pick” is an unconventional shooting technique with the tip of the foot, which experienced athletes usually only use in special situations (e.g. when there is no other way). If this shooting technique is not mastered, the ball can bounce off uncontrollably, accelerate or take a wrong direction.

The head butt ( header ) is not a passing game in the strict sense, but to forward or allowed in football possibility the ball to a teammate to use for a Torabschluss.

Variants of passports

The general form of pass, without any particular technique or situation, is usually just called “pass”; the term “simple passport” is rarely used.

Special names for pass variants are derived from criteria / facts that mainly concern the situation and the execution of the pass. Therefore, the passport designations described below are not to be understood as disjoint or as alternatives, but merely typifications. So z. B. a pass can be a diagonal pass and a long pass at the same time, double passes are often played as a direct pass and a short pass.

Type of forwarding:

Direct pass: The ball is passed to a teammate without delay, i.e. with just one touch of the ball. Colloquially, a direct passing game is called "one-touch".
Indirect pass: This term means the opposite of "direct pass": The player stops the ball before passing it to the next player. The term is rarely used.

Distance covered with the pass:

Short pass: The ball is quickly passed to one of the closest teammates. Often short passes are played several times in a row and in a confined space (short pass combination).
Long ball: Under a long pass (forward pass, downfield pass ) are understood in a soccer ball delivery over a long distance, z. B. over more than 20 meters. Since a long pass can also be shot sharply, in a curve-like manner and accordingly unpredictably (flank-like), it depends on the position of the player playing the pass at the moment of the ball release , whether it is only a long pass or already a flank (which in the broader sense also belongs to the pass variants).

Direction of playback:

Pass into the tip: The ball is played straight forward as possible. If several opponents are overcome in front of their goal by a through pass and the teammate who receives the ball has a very good chance of scoring, this is also referred to as a "fatal pass". In soccer sports reports, this is often referred to as “passing into the 'interface'” (through a gap in the opposing defensive line).
Cross pass: With a cross pass, the ball is played across the width of the playing field (parallel to the baseline); In contrast to through pass (play in the “depth”) - and diagonal pass.
Diagonal pass: the ball is played diagonally forward - or diagonally backwards, where the defender often does not expect it.
A back pass in the literal sense is playing the ball backwards. For the most part, however, only playing back to the goalkeeper is referred to as a "back pass".

Amount of feed:

Flat pass: The ball is played flat so that it rolls directly over the playing surface or flies just above it. Such passports are easier to control; direct or short passes are mostly flat passes.
With high passes (flying balls) the teammate is played over a higher trajectory of the ball. Flanks are special volleys.

End of the pass path:

Steilpass: The Steilpass, also called Steilvorlage, is a pass into the free space . It is (in football) a pass into the anticipated path of one's own player, often to overrun opposing players or the entire defense. It often requires the highest running speed when receiving the ball. If the point in time of the play and the start of the player being played are not exactly coordinated, an offside position often occurs .
Pass in the foot (rarely used as a term): With the pass, the player is played directly and usually standing.
Pass in the back: a pass that is not played exactly in the path of its own player, but arrives behind it. Is usually a bad pass.

Special execution technique:

Normal one-two and 'wall game'

One-two: A one- two is a style of play that is particularly used in football , in which two teammates pass the ball several times - usually quickly and directly. It can be used to bypass an opposing player effectively and quickly. The ball-bearing player A plays a teammate B and immediately continues to a position in which the ball can be passed directly to him again. Often the defender turns to the new ball owner B after the first pass, which makes it easier for A to run free; the pass back to A surprises him. The one-two is often used to quickly build up a counterattack . Good timing when playing and precise playing of the other player are prerequisites for successful double passes.

A variant of the one-two is the " wall game ", which is usually used in front of the opposing defensive line: While in a normal one-two pass the ball is played by player A to player B who is positioned to the side and then back into player A's run, in wall games the player plays A the ball in the top ; His teammate B, who is positioned there, plays it back (after he “walks towards the ball” and thereby detaches himself from a defender standing behind him) to player A, who is pulling down to the side, who thereby bypasses the defending player attacking him.

Other passport terms

In addition to the classic pass terms (see above), all variants of “passing” the ball are a pass in a broader sense . These include, for example, shots such as the kick-off , the goal kick and the tee shot , corner kicks and free kicks . Throws and headers that are not executed with the foot are also “passes” and thus passes.

No passes (because there is no pass) are, for example, a penalty kick , a direct shot on goal or a deliberate play “out of touch” or “out of goal”.

Pass combination:
... or “combination” for short describes a repeated passing game in which the opponents do not get control of the ball. See also Tiki-Taka , the offensive short passing game successfully practiced by Spanish teams.

Dream pass:
A pass played with the highest precision and the best possible timing, often through the opposing defensive line.

"fatal" passport:

Similar to the dream pass. A through pass, if possible played at the last moment before the pass taker is offside. This means that there are no longer any opponents between this player and the goalkeeper. This increases the chance of success with shots on goal. The pass is therefore dangerous (fatal).

Bad pass:
If the pass is bad, the pass fails. The ball cannot be reached by the teammate. B. out of bounds or leads to possession of the ball for the opposing team.

Last pass:
Unsuccessfully completed moves are often commented on with “the 'last pass' did not arrive” or something similar. Intentional meaning: It was not played or was a bad pass.

No-Look-Pass:
Passes in which the player being played is not in the field of vision of the passer-by are referred to in New German as No-Look-Passes.

Board game:
In indoor soccer , the player in possession of the ball can pass the ball to himself by hitting the side or head board at a suitable angle and the ball bounces into its own path, usually bypassing an opposing player.

Stangl Pass:
In Austria, flat cross passes are not referred to as flanks on the offensive, but as Stangl passes.

Schalker Kreisel Short passing game practiced
by FC Schalke 04 in the 1920s.

Limiting rules

The soccer rules describe situations in which the pass is subject to restrictions:

Offside rule : If a teammate has been played offside, the opposing team is awarded an indirect free kick.
Back pass to the goalkeeper: In the case of a “controlled” back pass with the foot to the goalkeeper, the goalkeeper may not pick up the ball with his hands, otherwise the opposing team will be awarded an indirect free kick. Playing back with the head or the chest is allowed. For details, see the return pass rule .
After the kick , the ball may only be accepted outside the 16-meter area.

Statistics on the passing game

An analysis by a sports scientist showed that 50% of all goals in football are scored after a passing game (template) to a teammate near the opponent's goal (30% from set pieces and 20% after crosses ).

Individual evidence

↑ Duden Dictionary of Origin Etymology of the German Language ISBN 3-411-20907-0
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d Gerhard Bauer football perfect… BLV Verlagsgemeinschaft München 1978
^ "Winged word" in sports reports, e.g. B. at the 2012 European Championship final (Spain: Italy)
^ Endre Benedek: Football training with children . 1st edition. Sportverlag Berlin, Berlin 1987, ISBN 3-328-00199-9 , p. 72-75 .

[1] Duden Dictionary of Origin Etymology of the German Language ISBN 3-411-20907-0

[Bauer-2] Gerhard Bauer football perfect… BLV Verlagsgemeinschaft München 1978

[3] "Winged word" in sports reports, e.g. B. at the 2012 European Championship final (Spain: Italy)

[4] Endre Benedek: Football training with children . 1st edition. Sportverlag Berlin, Berlin 1987, ISBN 3-328-00199-9 , p. 72-75 .