Long Ball

Intermediatepassing

Angled run-up, measure your steps.

Switch the play or find a runner with a lofted pass. Lean back, get under the ball, and drive through with your laces.

Key points

•Approach at 45 degrees
•Plant foot slightly behind the ball
•Lean back to get under it
•Drive through with a high follow-through

Practice with Coach Diego

Camera setup tips

· Place the camera side-on to you, 2 to 3 metres away.
· Keep your whole body in frame, head to feet.
· Phone on a tripod or a laptop webcam both work.
· Perform the movement, pause, repeat. Your coach speaks every 15 seconds.

Theory & Technique

The long ball is all about body shape. Approach from around 45 degrees to generate the arc you need. Plant your standing foot slightly behind and to the side of the ball — not next to it like a ground pass. Lean your upper body back so you can strike under the ball with your laces. Your kicking foot should come through with the toes pointing down, striking the lower half of the ball. The follow-through is high and exaggerated, with your kicking leg finishing above hip height. The backspin created by getting under the ball gives it carry and accuracy over distance.

Fun Fact

Andrea Pirlo's long-range passing was so accurate that teammates called his passes 'letters' — because they always arrived at the right address.

Watch the real thing

Learn from real coaches first. Your live scoring compares you to the reference figure above; these videos are for learning, and stay with their creators on YouTube.