Yo-Yo Passing Drill
Endurance & Recovery
Legend
- player
- ball
- movement path
How it works
Perform repeated passing runs between two lines to build aerobic capacity in a soccer-specific pattern.
What you need
- soccer ball
Your focus
Soccer endurance involves repeated short runs with brief recovery. The yo-yo passing drill replicates this pattern specifically: sprint to receive, pass, walk back, repeat. Building this pattern aerobically prepares players for real game demands.
Two players face each other 15 yards apart; one ball between them.
Player A passes to Player B and sprints 15 yards to where B was standing.
Player B passes back and sprints to where A was.
Continuously for 3 minutes, both players alternating sprint and pass.
Rest 90 seconds.
Complete 4 rounds; try to maintain the same pass quality across all rounds.
Goal
Success is maintaining the same passing accuracy on your last rep as your first, if the ball starts going wide when you're tired, that's the honest feedback.
Helpful cues
- Sprint right after you pass, not after you watch where it goes
- Recovery starts when you receive, control your breathing before your next pass
- Pass quality should be the same in round 4 as in round 1
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Jog instead of sprint; focus on technique over cardio.UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Distance extended to 25 yards; add a required turn move before passing back.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.

