A Systematic Review by Germany researcher Lepschy in 2018 analysed existing studies with regard to success factors in football was undertaken. 68 articles between 1986 and 2016 were included, 76 different variables were investigated in the reviewed papers. It was identified that the most significant variables are goal efficiency (number of goals divided by the number of shots), shots on target, ball possession, pass accuracy/successful passes, quality of opponent and match location [1].
An UK study used a regression analysis/model to identify performance indicators that may discriminate between games a soccer team won, drew and lost, in 46 matches played by a League One soccer team during the 2012-2013 domestic season. The results of the binary logistic regression concluded that the team should perform fewer passes and dribbles but complete more successful passes and shots to be successful [2].
The purpose of these passes is to build opportunities for shots, thereby increasing shots on target and ultimately scoring a goal. In the video showing a game between two bottom teams from the English Premier League. The pass accuracy of both teams in that game were about 70%. Have you ever encountered difficulties with achieving accurate passes during a casual game of football? The pass accuracy of some teams could be as low as 57%, i.e. every 2 passes, one failed passing to the teammate in a World Cup game.
The third article, Success Factors in the FIFA 2018 World Cup in Russia and FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil provided some descriptive statistics [3]. Average passes per match were 447, ranging from 156 to 1115. Mean pass accuracy was 79.97%, from 57 to 93%. In the 381 successful passes, either 20% of them were lost, i.e. 89.4 or about 13 total shots were made eventually. By calculation, about 3.73 passes were made before possession loss or shots.
In the syllabus of Cambridge IGCSE Physical Education, there is a session of association football skills [4], for example,
Level 2: limited accuracy when passing to another player in simple isolated practices and when not under pressure
Level 3: passing has direction and weight accuracy especially when passing to stationary team mates
Level 4: passing over varying heights and along ground; passing has good direction and weight accuracy including reasonable passing to moving team mates
Level 5: passing over varying heights and along ground; passing has good direction and weight accuracy including passing to moving team mates
Level 6: have exceeded all the criteria from Level 5 of receiving, controlling, passing, dribbling, heading and shooting.
I modify and extend the level as follows
Level 7: passing over varying heights and along ground; passing has good direction and weight accuracy including passing to stationary or moving team mates, with both feet
Level 8: passing over varying heights and along ground; passing has good direction and weight accuracy including passing to stationary or moving team mates, under pressure
Level 9: passing over varying heights and along ground; passing has good direction and weight accuracy including passing to stationary or moving team mates, under pressure in competitive games
In summary,
The purpose of ball passing in football is to build opportunities for shots, thereby increasing shots on target and ultimately scoring a goal.
I suggest setting the first target of passing over varying heights and along ground; passing has good direction and weight accuracy including reasonable passing to moving team mates which is the level 4 in IGCSE.
In this video, only passing is discussed. The other basic skills namely ball receiving, controlling, passing, dribbling, heading, shooting, defending skills are also important.
[4] Association football skills, Coursework Guidelines Booklet Cambridge IGCSE Physical Education
Passing drill at home