Gate Passing

Setup

Use two cones, shoes, or water bottles to make a gate wider than the ball at first. Put the target on a flat surface with a clear run-off area behind it. Begin close enough that the child can succeed without striking the ball hard.

Steps

1. Make a gate using two safe markers.
2. Start 3-5 metres away from the gate.
3. Pass the ball through the gate with the inside of the foot.
4. Move the gate farther away when accuracy improves.
5. After each pass, collect the ball and reset the body before trying again.

Coaching points

• Aim through the middle of the gate before taking the final step.
• Use a smooth inside-foot contact rather than the toe.
• Keep the standing foot roughly beside the ball and pointed at the target.
• Celebrate accuracy before power.

Common mistakes

• Kicking too hard and losing the target line.
• Rushing the pass before the body is balanced.
• Making the gate so narrow that every miss feels like failure.
• Moving the target before the child has repeated the current distance.

Make it easier

Make the gate wider, move closer, and allow the child to stop the ball before each new attempt. Use a point for any pass that travels through the gate, even if it is slow.

Make it harder

Narrow the gate slightly, use two gates at different angles, or ask the child to take one controlled touch before passing through the target.

How to know it is working

Look for six out of ten passes reaching the target without a full-power swing. The useful change is better aim and a calmer reset, not just a higher score.

Safety

Use soft, stable markers and keep the target away from windows, cars, roads, and people walking through the space. Do not use glass bottles or objects that can roll into a path.

Common questions