Passing and receiving exercises for U12 players
Passing and receiving are the technical foundation of any game model. For U12 players (11-12 years), improving body positioning, oriented control and ball circulation at speed is the key to developing a technically complete player ready for the tactical demands of the next stage. In this article you will find 5 passing and receiving exercises for U12 players, with complete structure: objective, players, materials, space, duration and how to progress or simplify each task. Everything you need to work on this essential technical base effectively with your team.
Why work on passing and receiving with U12 players?
Passing and receiving are the technical foundation of collective football. At U12 (11-12 years), consolidating good body positioning, oriented control and purposeful passing is the basis for executing complex combinations such as the third-man run, one-two and medium-long switching passes. Three pedagogical principles to keep in mind when working on passing and receiving with U12 players. First, body positioning: always receive the ball sideways-on, ready to play forward. Second, oriented control: every touch must prepare the next action. Third, execution speed: as the player's technique consolidates, the speed of control and pass must increase to apply in game pressure. These exercises work on these principles through passing circuits that combine multiple decision points and combinations in a single task.
Exercises 5
Collective technique
| Objective | Improve body positioning, control, dribbling, passing and third-man runs |
| Players | 7-20 players |
| Materials | Cones, discs and balls |
| Space | 20x30m |
| Duration | 2-4 sets x 4-6 min per set |
| Category | Collective technique |
The task consists of a passing circuit with 2 variants (black and orange) in which various technical actions are performed.
In the circuit follow the numerical rotation.
Focus on pass execution, dribbling moves (feints) and the timing of the third-man combination.
Variation: reduce the space to increase defensive intensity or add a touch limit to force faster play. You can also add a joker to create numerical superiority and facilitate learning.
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| Objective | Improve body positioning, control, making runs and passing |
| Players | 5-20 players |
| Materials | Cones, discs and balls |
| Space | 20x30m |
| Duration | 2-4 sets x 4-6 min per set |
| Category | Collective technique |
The task consists of a passing circuit with 2 variants (black and orange) in which various technical actions are performed.
In the circuit follow the numerical rotation.
Focus on pass execution and the timing of the third-man run or making runs into space.
Variation: reduce the space to increase defensive intensity or add a touch limit to force faster play. You can also add a joker to create numerical superiority and facilitate learning.
Collective technique
| Objective | Improve body positioning, control, passing, one-two combinations and third-man runs |
| Players | 5-20 players |
| Materials | Cones, discs and balls |
| Space | 20x30m |
| Duration | 2-4 sets x 4-6 min per set |
| Category | Collective technique |
The task consists of a passing circuit in which various technical actions are performed.
In the circuit follow the numerical rotation.
Focus on pass execution, the timing of the one-two combination and the third-man run.
Variation: reduce the space to increase defensive intensity or add a touch limit to force faster play. You can also add a joker to create numerical superiority and facilitate learning.
Collective technique
| Objective | Improve body positioning, control, passing, penetrating runs and third-man runs |
| Players | 7-20 players |
| Materials | Cones, discs and balls |
| Space | 20x30m |
| Duration | 2-4 sets x 4-6 min per set |
| Category | Collective technique |
The task consists of a passing circuit in which various technical actions are performed.
In the circuit follow the numerical rotation.
Focus on pass execution, the timing of the pass-and-run and the third-man combination.
Variation: reduce the space to increase defensive intensity or add a touch limit to force faster play. You can also add a joker to create numerical superiority and facilitate learning.
Collective technique
| Objective | Improve body positioning, control, passing, medium-long passing and third-man runs |
| Players | 11-22 players |
| Materials | Cones, discs and balls |
| Space | 20x30m |
| Duration | 2-4 sets x 4-6 min per set |
| Category | Collective technique |
The task consists of a passing circuit with 2 variants (black and orange) in which various technical actions are performed.
In the circuit follow the numerical rotation.
Focus on pass execution and the timing of the third-man combination.
Variation: reduce the space to increase defensive intensity or add a touch limit to force faster play. You can also add a joker to create numerical superiority and facilitate learning.
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Frequently asked questions
How many touches should the oriented control take for U12 players?
Ideally, the oriented control is performed in one touch that already prepares the next action. At U12 (11-12 years) it is normal for the player to master the one-touch control in most situations, but it can be normal to need two touches in complex combinations. The goal is consistent one-touch control that is already oriented toward the next target.
How often should I include passing and receiving exercises in my sessions?
For U12 (11-12 years), collective technique exercises for passing and receiving should appear at least once or twice per week. At this age they can be used in both the warm-up and as the main technical-tactical task of the session.
What is the difference between working on passing with U8 and U12 players?
"With U12 (11-12 years), the focus shifts from the basic pass to combinations (third-man run, one-two, penetrating run, medium-long pass). The circuits introduce more decision points and require greater speed of execution. The player must not just control and pass, but read the situation and choose the right combination."
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