Colman Noctor: 'Learning to pass the ball is a developmental win for children'

In a world increasingly shaped by individualism, sport may be one of the few remaining places where young people work together.

Not playing ball: Young footballers often refuse to pass because they fail to recognise that the team’s success is also their own. Picture: iStock

The more I watch children’s football, the more I find myself returning to one question: Why won’t they pass the ball?

As a parent and a coach, I see the same scenario. A child wins the ball and, despite team-mates in better positions calling for it, they either dribble past several opponents or take an ambitious shot. Possession is lost and the opportunity squandered.