Learn the outside-foot pass: foot position, standing leg, pace and approach angle – with the DFB technique model, transfer from a passing study and milestones.
The honest answer up front: In the outside-foot pass you hit the ball with the outer surface of the extended instep, the toe extended and slightly turned inwards – and the leg swings through after contact [1]. This is how the DFB describes the outside-instep kick, which you use for the pass. The ball leaves unseen past the body, and you can play it at full pace.
Equally honest: we found no study that examines exactly this pass. And the DFB states clearly that the inside-foot pass is the most important technique for combination play and, with a correct sequence, can solve almost all passing situations [1]. So the outside foot is an extra, not a must. Why learn it? Because it opens angles the inside of the foot does not have.
Stand in front of a wall, extend the toes of your kicking foot, turn them slightly inwards and hit the ball with the outer surface of the extended instep [1]. The foot should stay firm at the ankle.
Milestone: 8 out of 10 passes from 3 m go straight back.
Approach the ball in a straight line or slightly at an angle, plant the standing foot next to the ball and swing the kicking leg back [1]. Then contact and follow-through.
Milestone: 7 out of 10 passes from 8 m through a 2 m cone goal.
The outside-foot pass is a pass, not a shot. Play it at a pace your partner can control. In a study of 23 Swedish top-flight women, an inside-foot kick at match-relevant speed was more accurate than one at maximum speed [2] – a transfer to the outside foot, not a direct proof.
Milestone: 8 out of 10 passes at medium pace that your partner can control with one touch.
Dribble 5 m and play the pass on the run. In the same study the pass after running with the ball was less accurate than from standing, and the best approach angle for the preferred foot was 30 degrees rather than 0 or 60 degrees [2]. With a straight approach the players missed systematically: right foot to the left, left foot to the right [2]. So test 0, 30 and 60 degrees yourself.
Milestone: 6 out of 10 passes from 12 m on the run into a 3 m square.
Play the pass into a partner's run without showing beforehand where it goes. The DFB wants control and carrying in the direction of movement to prepare the follow-up action [3]. Your pass should make exactly that possible for your partner.
Milestone: 5 passes in a row into your partner's run, which he carries on with one touch.
The foot position with extended, inward-turned toes loads the ankle. That is a practical note, not a study: warm up well and increase speed and volume slowly. The FIFA 11+ programme cut the injury rate by 39% in a meta-analysis [4]. This guide explains and motivates; it does not replace supervised training.
Use the outside foot when the opponent expects the inside. Your body still points to an inside-foot pass, the ball suddenly goes past on the outside. With a straight approach the players in the study missed to the left or right respectively [2] – if you know your standing leg and approach angle, you can plan for that. And: Williams and Hodges showed that training practice in football is often based on tradition rather than research [5]. Be critical, test your own angles with your phone and record what works for you.
A pass where you play the ball with the outer surface of the extended instep. The toes are extended and slightly turned inwards [1]. It is also called an outside-instep pass.
When the angle for the inside is missing or you want to deceive an opponent. The DFB calls the inside of the foot the most important technique for combination play [1]; the outside foot is a complement.
Usually yes. You must extend the foot and turn it inwards without losing the ankle [1]. That is practical experience; we found no comparison study.
A pass or shot with the outside of the instep in which the ball often curls. How much spin you create depends on the contact point and foot position. We have no reliable study on this; it is coaching knowledge.
Play at match-relevant pace instead of maximum and test your approach angle. With a straight approach the players in a study missed to the left or right respectively [2].
Learning the Chip Pass: Lift the Ball Briefly Over the Opponent and Drop It Behind Him