Combination Shooting Drills
A triangle of one-touch passes builds up quickly to a layoff into space and a first-time shot on goal — then the combinations grow harder, series by series.
Building up quickly for a shot means one-touch combinations to feet — and finishing means good body mechanics and a strike on target.
Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive
- Grab: Cones for two triangles, a large supply of balls per triangle, and your full-size goal.
- Build: Create two triangles about 15 yards from each other and approximately 5 yards outside the penalty box — adjust the distance from goal for the age and skill level of your players.
- Place: A player on each cone, the remaining players lined up outside the triangle area, and a keeper in the full-size goal.
Show me the setup picture
One thing to remember: Combination play and finishing — one-touch passing combinations to feet, good fluid movement with the body under control, striking with good body mechanics, and putting first-time shots on target.
How it runs — the whole game in one sentence
Player 1 starts the series — the ball works around the triangle one touch at a time until the layoff into space near the top of the box, and the shooter hits it first time on goal.
1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Put a player on each cone of both triangles, line the rest up outside the triangle area, and put the keeper in the goal — the keeper rotates out after every 3 or 4 shots.
Coach says
One on each cone, everyone else in line. Keeper — you're out after four shots, fresh gloves in.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk combination series 1 — player 1 starts by passing to player 2, player 2 passes to player 3, and player 3 lays a ball into space near the top of the penalty box for player 1 to hit a first-time shot on goal.
Coach says
One, two, lay it off — then hit it first time. Nobody stops the ball.
3Play▾
Coach does
Run the series and hold the standard — good passing combinations to feet playing in one touch, good fluid movement with the body under control, and a finish on target with good body mechanics behind the strike.
Coach says
One touch, to feet! Get your body over it — hit the target.
Look for: The strike — body mechanics under control and the first-time finish on target.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
Move to combination series 2 — player 1 to player 2, player 2 to player 3, player 3 back to player 1, and player 1 lays off into space for player 3's first-time shot. Switch the sides players shoot from so they finish left- and right-footed, and be creative with your own combinations — they're limitless.
Coach says
New series — one extra pass, then the layoff. Other side next, so both feet work.
If it's not working
If shots aren't coming off, slide the triangles closer to goal while they play — the right distance for their age and skill puts the finish in reach — then push them back out.
Want to go deeper? Optional — not needed to run the game.
Why are we doing this?
What are they learning?
How can I change it?
Harder: Step up through the combination series — they make the drill more difficult progressively — or make up other combinations; they are limitless.