Catch Me If You Can
Two players start kitty-corner and race around the outside of the grid, each dribbling flat out to catch the other — until your call stops or flips the chase.
It's a fun, competitive race that makes dribbling with speed the whole game — catch your partner and the ball had to come with you.
Starting at Core — your team is set to mixed.
10 min tonight · Two players per grid, a ball each
- Ages 4–12
- Two players per grid, a ball each
- 10 min as the drill is written
- Cones, balls
Grab Cones for the grid and a ball for each of the two racers.
Build Build a 10-by-10-yard grid.
Place One player on each of two diagonal corners of the grid, each with a ball.
- 1
Organize the players
Set the two players on diagonal corners of the grid with a ball each.
“Opposite corners, ball at your feet. When I say go, you're chasing each other — around the outside.”
- 2
Show the jobs
Walk the calls — on "GO" they dribble around the outside of the grid trying to catch their partner; on "STOP" they must stop the ball; on "TURN" they switch direction around the grid.
“'GO' means chase! 'STOP' — ball dead under your foot. 'TURN' — the whole race flips!”
- 3
Play
Run the race and keep the calls coming. Watch for close control and speed with the ball — the ball kept close with sharp touches even at a sprint.
“GO! Keep it close — sharp touches! ... TURN!”
Look for The ball kept close at full speed — sharp touches, not one big kick and a footrace.
- 4
Switch and repeat
Add commands for later rounds — "LEFT" to use the left foot only, "RIGHT" to use the right foot only, "BOTTOM" to use the bottom of the foot only.
“New calls this time — 'LEFT' foot, 'RIGHT' foot, 'BOTTOM' of the foot only!”
If the race outruns their touch — balls skidding away at every corner — slide the cones out a few steps while they run; longer sides, fewer turns, and the control comes back.
Go deeper · 2 notes
Why it works
Racing to catch a partner makes speed the point while the corners keep demanding control — a fun, competitive exercise where dribbling with speed does all the work.
What they learn
Dribbling with speed — close control, keeping the ball close, and sharp touches.
Where does this come from?
SoccerXpert — their published drill library.
A published drill library. Useful and widely used, but not a governing body — so it fills gaps rather than leading.