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.

Ages 9+Pairs per course — one works, one rests10 minCones, balls, practice sticks

Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive

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.

Show me the setup picture

Two small cone grids five yards apart with a two-stick gate between them, a player on the ball in the gate, and a resting partner beside the course.

One thing to remember: Dribbling with speed, controlled touches with the outside and inside of the foot, keeping the ball close, quick cutting touches, and heads up.

How it runs — the whole game in one sentence

Dribble figure eights around the cones and through the center sticks for one minute per series — free touches first, then outside-of-the-foot, then inside — rotating partners between.

1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Send a pair to each course with the first player between the practice sticks, ball ready — partners rotate after every one-minute series.
Coach says
Partners! One of you between the sticks, ball ready — the other one breathes. You'll swap every minute.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
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.
Coach says
Figure eights — around, through the middle, around the other way. First minute, any touch you like.
3Play▾
Coach does
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.
Coach says
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.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
Rotate partners each minute and step through the series — outside of the foot, then inside.
Coach says
Swap! New rule — going left, outside of your left foot only.

If it's not working

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.

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

Why are we doing this?

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 are they learning?

Dribbling with speed, controlled touches with the outside and inside of the foot, keeping the ball close, quick cutting touches, and heads up.