Shooting Agility Drill

One flowing combination — pass wide, weave the cones, and meet a lay-off for a first-time shot — with every player rotating through winger, target, and shooter.

Passing combination and agility run on the same clock here — precise passes timed to a player moving at speed — which is what makes it an excellent pre-game warm-up for passing and shooting.

Ages 9+Two wingers, a target, a keeper, and a line of shooters20 minCones, practice sticks, balls, full-size goal

Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive

Grab: Cones or practice sticks for the slalom, plenty of balls, and your full-size goal.
Build: About 35 yards out, line up 5 or 6 cones about a yard apart.
Place: A keeper in the goal, a winger on either side of the field, a target player near the top of the penalty area, and everyone else in a line behind the cones with the balls.

Show me the setup picture

A line of players with balls behind a short slalom of cones about 35 yards out, a winger on each side of the field, a target at the top of the penalty area, and a keeper in the goal.

One thing to remember: Passing combination with agility — precise passes with proper weight and timing, speed through the cones, a proper lay-off, and an accurate one-touch shot.

How it runs — the whole game in one sentence

Each player passes wide, weaves the cones, and meets the target's lay-off for a first-time shot — then shooter rotates to a wing, winger to target, and target to the back of the line.

1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Put the keeper in the goal, a winger on either side of the field, and a target player near the top of the penalty area. Everyone else lines up behind the cones with the balls.
Coach says
Line up behind the cones, balls ready. Wingers wide, target at the top of the box — everybody gets every job today.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk the combination — the first player passes outside to the winger and immediately weaves in and out of the cones; at the same time, the winger plays to the target, who lays the ball off to the first player as they come out of the cones for a first-time shot on goal, if possible.
Coach says
Pass it wide, then weave — quick feet! Winger finds the target, target lays it off, and you hit it first time.
3Play▾
Coach does
Keep the reps rolling and coach the timing — it matters most, along with speed through the cones. Passes precise with proper weight and timing, the ball properly laid off for a first-time shot, and the shooter striking accurately on one touch.
Coach says
Time it — you and the ball arrive together! One touch, hit it clean!
Look for: The timing — passes weighted so the shooter comes out of the cones exactly as the lay-off arrives for an accurate one-touch strike.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
The rotation runs itself — the shooter moves to the right or left winger position to receive the next player's pass, the former winger becomes the target, and the old target shags the ball and gets in line. In later rounds, change the agility — backward or sideways slalom — or have the winger and target make check runs before receiving.
Coach says
You shot? You're a winger now. Winger to target, target — shag that ball and get in line. Next round we weave it backward!

If it's not working

If the combination keeps breaking down, freeze it and ask — what has to arrive together at the end of the cones? Let them say it, then run it again.

Want to go deeper? Optional — not needed to run the game.

Why are we doing this?

The pass, the weave, and the lay-off all happen at once, so the timing of the passes and the speed through the cones carry the whole drill — passing combination and agility in one rep, which is why it works as a pre-game warm-up for passing and shooting.

What are they learning?

Passing combination with agility — precise passes with proper weight and timing, speed through the cones, a proper lay-off, and an accurate one-touch shot.