Dribbling 8 min

Cone Dribble Slalom

⚽ ○ ○

Weave through 6 cones using the inside and outside of your foot. Keep the ball close!

Equipment

  • 6 cones
  • 1 ball per player

Instructions

  1. Set up 6 cones in a straight line, 2 feet apart.
  2. Start at one end with the ball at your feet.
  3. Dribble through the cones using the inside of your right foot, then the outside of your left foot.
  4. At the last cone, turn and dribble back through the other way.
  5. Try to go faster each round without losing control!

⚽ Coach's Tip

"Keep your head up so you can see the cones ahead — don't stare at the ball the whole time!"

👨‍👩‍👧 Parent Note

Watch that your child is using both feet. Gently encourage them to try their weaker side — it's totally normal to feel wobbly at first!

Dribbling 10 min

Sharks and Minnows

⚽ ○ ○

Dribble to safety while the "shark" tries to kick your ball out of the grid. Stay alive!

Equipment

  • Cones (grid boundary)
  • 1 ball per minnow

Instructions

  1. Mark out a 20×20 yard grid with cones.
  2. Choose 1–2 players to be "sharks" — they do NOT have a ball.
  3. All other players ("minnows") dribble freely inside the grid.
  4. Sharks try to kick minnows' balls out of the grid.
  5. If your ball goes out, you become a shark too. Last minnow standing wins!

⚽ Coach's Tip

"Use your body to shield the ball — turn your back to the shark and protect it with your whole body!"

👨‍👩‍👧 Parent Note

Look for whether your child is keeping the ball close under pressure. Praise them when they use their body to shield — that's a real skill!

Passing 10 min

Partner Passing Gates

⚽ ○ ○

Pass the ball through small cone gates with a partner. Score a point for each clean pass through!

Equipment

  • 8 cones (4 gates)
  • 1 ball per pair

Instructions

  1. Set up 4 small gates (2 cones each, 1 yard wide) scattered around a 15×15 yard area.
  2. Work in pairs — one ball between two players.
  3. Pass the ball through any gate to your partner. Score 1 point per gate.
  4. Your partner must receive the ball cleanly before you can score.
  5. Try to score through all 4 gates in 60 seconds!

⚽ Coach's Tip

"Plant your non-kicking foot next to the ball and use the inside of your foot — that's your most accurate passing surface!"

👨‍👩‍👧 Parent Note

Encourage your child to communicate with their partner — calling for the ball is a huge part of soccer at any level.

Passing 12 min

3v1 Rondo

⚽ ⚽ ○

Three players keep the ball away from one defender in a small square. Quick passes win!

Equipment

  • 4 cones (square)
  • 1 ball

Instructions

  1. Mark a 8×8 yard square with cones.
  2. Three players stand outside the square; one player is the defender inside.
  3. The three outside players pass the ball to each other, keeping it away from the defender.
  4. If the defender wins the ball or it goes out, the player who lost it becomes the new defender.
  5. Rotate so everyone gets a turn defending!

⚽ Coach's Tip

"Move after you pass! Don't stand still — find a new spot where your teammate can pass back to you."

👨‍👩‍👧 Parent Note

This drill builds quick thinking under pressure. Ask your child what they do when the defender comes toward them — the answer is "pass quickly or move away!"

Shooting 10 min

Shooting Lane Finish

⚽ ○ ○

Dribble through a lane of cones and take a clean shot on goal. Aim for the corners!

Equipment

  • 4 cones (lane)
  • Goal or 2 cone goal
  • Multiple balls

Instructions

  1. Set up a dribbling lane 15 yards from goal using 4 cones.
  2. Players line up at the start of the lane, each with a ball.
  3. Dribble through the lane, keeping the ball under control.
  4. When you exit the lane, shoot on goal using your laces (instep).
  5. Try to hit the corners — call out "left" or "right" before you shoot!

⚽ Coach's Tip

"Lock your ankle tight, lean over the ball, and follow through toward the goal. That's the secret to a powerful, accurate shot!"

👨‍👩‍👧 Parent Note

Look for your child's body position over the ball when they shoot. If they're leaning back, the ball goes high — remind them to lean forward slightly.

Shooting 12 min

2v1 to Goal

⚽ ⚽ ○

Two attackers vs. one defender — use teamwork to create a shooting chance. Communicate!

Equipment

  • Goal or 2 cone goal
  • Multiple balls

Instructions

  1. Two attackers start 20 yards from goal; one defender starts 10 yards from goal.
  2. Coach plays the ball to one attacker to start the play.
  3. Attackers work together to beat the defender and shoot on goal.
  4. Defender tries to win the ball or force a bad shot.
  5. Rotate roles after each attempt — everyone gets to attack and defend!

⚽ Coach's Tip

"When you have the ball, look at your teammate's run — pass when the defender commits to you, then your teammate is free!"

👨‍👩‍👧 Parent Note

This drill teaches decision-making under pressure. Praise your child for passing at the right moment — that's smarter than always trying to dribble past.

Defense 10 min

1v1 Channel Defending

⚽ ⚽ ○

Defend a narrow channel — slow the attacker down and force them to one side. Stay patient!

Equipment

  • 6 cones (channel)
  • 1 ball per pair

Instructions

  1. Mark a 5×20 yard channel with cones.
  2. Attacker starts at one end with the ball; defender starts 3 yards in front.
  3. Attacker tries to dribble to the other end of the channel.
  4. Defender tries to slow the attacker, force them sideways, and win the ball.
  5. Swap roles after each attempt.

⚽ Coach's Tip

"Stay on your toes, bend your knees, and don't dive in! Wait for the attacker to make a mistake — then pounce!"

👨‍👩‍👧 Parent Note

Good defending is about patience, not aggression. Praise your child when they slow the attacker down — that's the goal, even if they don't win the ball every time.

Defense 12 min

Transition Defending Game

⚽ ⚽ ⚽

Win the ball and immediately switch to attack. React fast when your team loses possession!

Equipment

  • Cones (grid)
  • 2 small goals
  • Multiple balls

Instructions

  1. Set up a 20×20 yard grid with a small goal at each end.
  2. Play 3v3 — each team defends one goal and attacks the other.
  3. When a team wins the ball, they must take a shot within 5 seconds.
  4. The team that just lost the ball must sprint back to defend immediately.
  5. First team to 5 goals wins the round!

⚽ Coach's Tip

"The moment you lose the ball, sprint back! The fastest defender is the one who reacts first — not the fastest runner."

👨‍👩‍👧 Parent Note

Watch for your child's reaction when their team loses the ball. Encourage them to sprint back immediately — this habit is one of the most valuable in soccer.

Teamwork 15 min

4v4 Teamwork Challenge

⚽ ⚽ ○

Score by dribbling through the opponent's end-zone gate. Every player must touch the ball first!

Equipment

  • Cones (field + end-zone gates)
  • Bibs/vests
  • 1 ball

Instructions

  1. Set up a 25×20 yard field with a 2-cone gate in each end-zone.
  2. Split into two teams of 4.
  3. To score, your team must complete a pass to every teammate before dribbling through the gate.
  4. If the other team wins the ball, the touch count resets.
  5. Celebrate every goal — it took real teamwork to score!

⚽ Coach's Tip

"Spread out! If you're all bunched together, there's no space to pass. Find an open spot and call for the ball!"

👨‍👩‍👧 Parent Note

This drill is all about communication and spacing. Ask your child after practice: "Did you call for the ball today?" — it's a habit that makes a huge difference.

Teamwork 8 min

Passing Circle

⚽ ○ ○

Pass around the circle without stopping — see how many passes your team can string together!

Equipment

  • 1 ball
  • 5–8 players

Instructions

  1. Players stand in a circle about 5 yards apart.
  2. Pass the ball around the circle — always two touches: one to control, one to pass.
  3. Count the passes out loud together as a team.
  4. If the ball goes out of the circle, the count resets to zero.
  5. Challenge: Can you beat your team record?

⚽ Coach's Tip

"Get your body ready before the ball arrives — open your hips toward the player you're going to pass to next!"

👨‍👩‍👧 Parent Note

This drill builds rhythm and trust between teammates. Celebrate when your child's team beats their record — it shows they're improving together!

Warm-Up 8 min

Dynamic Warm-Up Circuit

⚽ ○ ○

Get your body ready to play with high knees, butt kicks, side shuffles, and toe taps. Let's go!

Equipment

  • Cones (start/end markers)
  • Optional: 1 ball per player

Instructions

  1. Mark a 15-yard line with cones at each end.
  2. High knees: Drive your knees up to your waist — go and back.
  3. Butt kicks: Kick your heels up to your backside — go and back.
  4. Side shuffles: Face sideways and shuffle — go right, come back left.
  5. Toe taps on ball: Alternate feet tapping the top of the ball for 20 seconds.

⚽ Coach's Tip

"A good warm-up means your muscles are ready to sprint and change direction safely. Never skip it — even the pros warm up every single game!"

👨‍👩‍👧 Parent Note

Warming up properly reduces injury risk. Encourage your child to take the warm-up seriously — it's not just running around, it's preparing their body for real effort.

Warm-Up 8 min

Red Light / Green Light

⚽ ○ ○

Dribble on "green light," stop the ball dead on "red light." React fast and keep control!

Equipment

  • 1 ball per player
  • Cones (boundary)

Instructions

  1. Mark a 20×20 yard grid. Every player has a ball.
  2. Coach calls "green light" — everyone dribbles freely around the grid.
  3. Coach calls "red light" — everyone stops the ball immediately under their foot.
  4. Coach can also call "yellow light" — dribble in slow motion!
  5. Last player to stop on "red light" does 5 toe taps as a fun challenge.

⚽ Coach's Tip

"Stop the ball with the bottom of your foot — that's called a 'sole stop' and it's one of the most useful moves in soccer!"

👨‍👩‍👧 Parent Note

This drill builds ball familiarity and listening skills at the same time. Ask your child to show you a "sole stop" at home — it's a great skill to practice in the backyard!

Need a custom drill? 🎯

Ask the Soccer Practice Coach to build a drill tailored to your team's needs.

Ask the Coach →