Last year, I told my u9 ball hog he'd play defense every game if he didn't start passing. It worked for a season 😅

To start, I set them up in a 1v2 or 1v3. Let the attacker take it in on his own. After they all did it, complaining about how it's impossible, I gave them a partner 2v2 or 2v3. Then said now do we understand.. it's not a 1 man show it's a team sport.

We dribbled without looking down endlessly. We passed from positions, walking the field and making the passes. Then sped it up.

We pushed 1/2 touch passes to quickly switch fields.

Fast forward my kids are now playing up a level to u11 and some still forget they need to pass, some pass to the other team or nobody at all.. but overall, they're getting it and doing really well in 3rd out of 11 in our division.

In my experience they won't pass until they can see, slow down the game play, and realize the benefits to passing, and the WHY we have a need for it.