A firm laces pass that travels along the ground or just above it, on a fairly straight line, over a long distance. You use it to switch the ball from one side of the field to the other, to move it from defence to attack, or to play a through ball. Unlike a chip or a lofted pass, you stay over the ball and strike through its middle, so it stays low (knee height or lower) to medium (knee to head height) and gets there in a hurry.
Set up
Take a quick look at your target before you run in, then put your eyes back on the ball. If your teammate is moving, pick the spot where they will be, not where they are now.
Approach straight on or on a slight diagonal, usually over 2 or 3 steps, and make your last stride a long one. The long last stride adds momentum to the leg swing. Studies of angled run-ups (up to about 45 degrees) found at most a small, uncertain gain in ball speed, so use the angle that feels natural.
a long, bounding last step into the plant.
Plant your standing foot firmly beside the ball, about 6 inches away, toes pointing at your target, with the standing knee slightly bent and your arms out for balance.
Strike
Swing the kicking leg back from the hip, heel rising toward your backside. Point your toes down and lock your ankle, and keep them that way through the strike.
a stiff foot, like a solid block on the end of your leg.
Lean slightly forward so your chest and kicking knee are over the ball. Keep your head down and watch your foot meet the ball.
Swing fully from the hip and strike through the centre of the ball with your laces (the top of the foot, nearer the ankle than the toes). Contact at the centre with the instep facing down keeps it flat. To lift it to medium height, contact just a touch below the centre. Any lower and you are hitting a lofted pass instead.
a clean, firm thump off the top of your foot.
Follow through
Follow through fully. For a low, flat ball, let the kicking leg carry through and across your body while your standing-side arm comes across the other way, so you briefly finish in a corkscrew shape. For a medium-height ball, follow through in line with the ball's flight, toward your target. Your kicking-side arm stays back slightly in both.
Feel it
A long last stride, a firm plant, then a locked foot meeting the middle of the ball with your chest over it. The ball leaves fast and on a straight line, along the ground or just above it. If it climbs, you were leaning back or got under it. If it dies short, the plant was soft or the follow-through stopped early.
Fix-its
- Ball balloons up instead of staying low Leaning back, planting behind the ball or hitting below the centre all lift it (that is how a lofted pass is made). Plant beside the ball, keep your chest and knee over it, point your toes down and strike the centre.
- Not enough distance Make the plant firm, lengthen the last stride and swing all the way through. Strike with the laces, not the toe, and keep the ankle locked. Younger players: shorten the distance and build it up as leg strength comes.
- Hooking or slicing it On instep kicks a plant foot too close to the ball tends to hook it, and one too far away tends to slice it. Reset the plant to about 6 inches beside the ball, toes at the target.
- Off target Check your plant foot points at the target and your hips and shoulders face it. Keep your eyes on the ball until contact; looking up early pulls the strike.
- Hitting it as hard as you can and missing Getting it to your teammate matters more than power. Strike firmly but under control, then add pace once it arrives accurately.
Drill
- Pairs, stationary ball: drive passes back and forth at a distance that suits your age and leg strength. Alternate feet so both legs get equal work. Warm up first and start at a shorter distance before going long.
- Pairs, dribble first: dribble a few touches, then drive the pass, planting beside the ball as it rolls into position. Start slowly and speed up as you succeed.
- Moving receiver: your partner runs left or right across your line and you drive the pass to where they will be. Use both feet.
- Into space: the receiver starts about 10 yards ahead and 5 yards to the side, then runs forward. Dribble, then drive the ball into the space ahead of them. Finish with a shot on goal and rotate roles.
- Game: 4 v 2 in a large space with no goals, defenders only cutting passing lanes. Look for the long driven pass to the far side whenever the lane opens.
By position
Any player who switches play, moves the ball from defence to attack or plays a through ball over distance uses this pass. If you are usually the one it is played to, the matching skill is your first touch on a fast, low ball.
Sources
- US Youth Soccer Coaching Education Dept (Sam Snow) — Skills School Manual: Instep Pass (p. 24), Crossing: Instep (pp. 24–25), Height of Pass Categories (p. 27), Ball action (pp. 12–13) (2017)
- John C. Harves, Coaching American Soccer — Intermediate Passing: The Driven Pass
- John C. Harves, Coaching American Soccer — Intermediate Passing: The Lofted Drive
- England Football Learning — Different passing techniques in football (2023)
- Inoue, Smith & Nunome — Impact techniques for controlling ball trajectory height in soccer instep kicking, ISBS Proceedings (2025)
- Kellis & Katis — Biomechanical characteristics and determinants of instep soccer kick, J Sports Sci Med (2007)
Last checked 2026-10-30.