When to Pass and When to Dribble: The Simple Answer

As you move up levels in soccer, the speed of the game increases – but it’s not just foot speed. More often than not, it’s the speed we make decisions that truly determines the speed of play.

So, as we look to increase our decision-making speed, a key moment for players is to quickly decide when it’s a good time to make a pass versus dribbling.  

Fortunately, the solution is just one quick look away.

Determine Which Team is Outnumbered  

When your favorite soccer player gets the ball, they take a look at the situation in front of them, and then choose whether to pass or dribble. What exactly are they looking at before taking action?

They’re determining which team has more players in their immediate vicinity. In other words, they’re determining which team is outnumbered, at least in this portion of the field.  

Welcome to one of BGM’s Golden Rules of Soccer: If your team outnumbers the opponent, pass. If the opponent outnumbers your team, dribble.

What to Do in Either Situation

Whether you’re on offense or defense, you never want to find yourself short-handed in high-pressure situations. But it does happen.

Let’s say you have the ball and for whatever reason, the other team has more players in this area than your team.

In this case, the Golden Rule is to dribble and hold onto the ball because it slows down the game, giving your team more time to catch up and even up the number of players in the area.

Conversely, let’s say you have the ball and your opponent is temporarily outnumbered. This means it’s easier for your teammates to make themselves open for passes. The ball also moves faster than any player. So, passing is the most effective way to penetrate your opponent’s limited defense.

The One Exception to the Rule

When it comes to rules like this, there are always exceptions – one that we want attacking players to remember is that they should be comfortable taking a defender on 1v1.

If you have a teammate open for a clear chance on goal, make the pass. If they are not clearly open – and you will be 1v1 with the goalie if you get past your defender – don’t be afraid to take them on.  

Finding that exception and being able to quickly make the right decision isn’t easy to learn. That’s why we created BGTV, a massive library of professional footage organized by position with analysis from professional players. Each clip features high-level players making smart decisions - like choosing when to pass or dribble - with breakdowns explaining how the player knew what to do in this situation.

Ready to check out BGTV? Use code FREEMONTH1 to get the first month free.