Passing and Receiving Warm-up
Inside players check to a server on the edge of the grid, call their name, and one-touch the ball straight back — a minute of work, then the teams trade places.
A passing-and-receiving warm-up that bends toward whatever skill you want that day — every rep is a check, a call, and a clean return.
20 min tonight · Two even teams
- Ages 9+
- Two even teams
- 20 min as the drill is written
- Cones, pinnies, balls
Grab Cones for the grid, a ball for every player on one team, and pinnies for one of the teams.
Build Build a grid about 20 by 20 yards.
Place One team spreads around the outside of the square, each player with a ball; the other team goes inside to work.
- 1
Organize the players
Split the team into two even teams. One team takes the outside of the grid, every player with a ball; the other team steps inside to work.
“Two teams. Outside team — spread out, ball each. Inside team — you're working first.”
- 2
Show the jobs
Walk one rep — an inside player moves through the square, checks to any outside player, and calls their name. The outside player plays the ball in, and the inside player quickly returns it in one touch, then finds the next server.
“Move, check to somebody, and call their name — loud. One touch back, then go find another.”
- 3
Play
Have the inside team work for one minute. Watch for good solid passes and a good controlled first touch.
“One minute — every pass solid, every touch clean!”
Look for Good solid passes and a controlled first touch, even as the pace comes up.
- 4
Switch and repeat
Switch the inside and outside groups every minute. Then run the variations — require a touch with the inside (or outside) of the foot before the return; have the servers pick the ball up and serve by hand for inside-of-the-foot volleys, top-of-the-foot volleys, thigh volleys, chest volleys, headers, and more; or work 30 seconds at a comfortable speed and 30 at full speed.
“Switch! This round, take a touch with the inside of your foot first — then play it back.”
If the square goes quiet, freeze it and ask — how does your server know you're ready? Let someone say it, then play on.
Go deeper · 2 notes
Why it works
Every server armed with a ball means no one waits — the working team strings together checks, calls, and one-touch returns, and the same frame takes any passing or receiving skill you want to feature.
What they learn
Passing and receiving — checking to the ball, calling for it, one-touch returns, good solid passes, and a good controlled first touch.
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.