Figure Eight Dribbling Drill
One player carves figure eights around two cone grids and through a stick gate in the middle — a minute at full speed, then the next series changes which part of the foot steers.
A good change from weaving in and out of cones — the figure eight is great for dribbling with the inside and the outside of the foot.
10 min tonight · Pairs per course — one works, one rests
- Ages 9+
- Pairs per course — one works, one rests
- 10 min as the drill is written
- Cones, balls, practice sticks
Grab Cones, two practice sticks per course, and a ball per pair.
Build Create two 5-by-5 grids about 5 yards apart, stand the two practice sticks in the middle about 3 yards apart, and set a cone on each end, turning the grids into a pentagon — build more courses to fit your numbers.
Place One player starts between the practice sticks with a ball; their partner waits to rotate in.
- 1
Organize the players
Send a pair to each course with the first player between the practice sticks, ball ready — partners rotate after every one-minute series.
“Partners! One of you between the sticks, ball ready — the other one breathes. You'll swap every minute.”
- 2
Show the jobs
Walk the series — first, a figure eight around the cones and through the center practice sticks with no restrictions. Next, traveling left they dribble with the outside of the left foot, traveling right with the outside of the right. Then traveling left with the inside of the right foot, and traveling right with the inside of the left. Each series lasts one minute.
“Figure eights — around, through the middle, around the other way. First minute, any touch you like.”
- 3
Play
Run each series at full speed for one minute, rotating partners between. Watch for speed, controlled touches with the outside and inside of the foot, the ball kept close, and quick touches cutting it around the course.
“Full speed! Quick little touches — cut it around, and eyes up!”
Look for Quick, controlled touches cutting the ball around the course — with the head up.
- 4
Switch and repeat
Rotate partners each minute and step through the series — outside of the foot, then inside.
“Swap! New rule — going left, outside of your left foot only.”
If the middle gate keeps swallowing the ball, slide the sticks a step apart while they run — then bring them back in as the touches sharpen.
Go deeper · 2 notes
Why it works
The figure eight bends the same skill both directions — inside and outside of the foot, left and right — and it's a welcome change from another straight line of cone weaves.
What they learn
Dribbling with speed, controlled touches with the outside and inside of the foot, keeping the ball close, quick cutting touches, and heads up.
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.