Six-Cone Passing Drill

Five players cover five cones of a six-cone rectangle — pass the ball, then sprint to the open cone before the next pass opens yours.

Passing, awareness, and movement after the pass — a great warmup, and a sharp way to work passing technique with the movement built in.

Ages 9+Groups of 515 minCones

Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive

Grab: Six cones and a ball for the group.
Build: Build a 15-by-25-yard rectangle using the six cones.
Place: Five players each take a cone, leaving one cone empty — one player starts with the ball.

Show me the setup picture

A six-cone rectangle, 15 by 25, with five players on cones, one cone standing empty, and the ball at one player's feet.

One thing to remember: Good passing technique — crisp passes with good weight — plus awareness, movement immediately after the pass, and playing in two touch.

How it runs — the whole game in one sentence

Pass to a teammate, then move to the open cone — your old cone opens for the next passer, and the round runs 2 minutes.

1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Put five players on five of the six cones, leaving one empty, and give one player the ball.
Coach says
One cone each — and see the empty one? Whoever passes goes there next.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk the loop — pass the ball, then move to the open cone; as the passer moves, their cone becomes the open one, available for the next passer.
Coach says
Pass it, then go — the empty cone is yours. The one you left opens up for the next passer.
3Play▾
Coach does
Run the round for 2 minutes. Watch for good passing technique, crisp passes with good weight, movement immediately after the pass, and playing in two touch.
Coach says
Two touches — crisp passes! The second it leaves your foot, you're moving!
Look for: Movement immediately after the pass — nobody admiring their pass from a standstill.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
Reset and run more 2-minute rounds. For later rounds, resize the field, limit everyone to one-touch passing, or add a combination or 1-2 pass.
Coach says
New round — one touch only this time!

If it's not working

If the passing keeps breaking down, slide the cones out for a bigger rectangle while they play — then bring it back in as the passes connect.

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

Why are we doing this?

The open cone attaches a move to every pass — passing technique, awareness, and movement after the pass all get worked at once, which is what makes it a great warmup or a focused look at passing technique and movement.

What are they learning?

Good passing technique — crisp passes with good weight — plus awareness, movement immediately after the pass, and playing in two touch.