Four-Cone Passing Drill
Three players cover three cones of a four-cone grid — pass to either teammate, then take the open cone and leave yours up for grabs.
Passing technique and movement after the pass, in the simplest grid there is — a great passing warm-up and a good start to a passing session.
10 min tonight · Groups of 3
- Ages 9+
- Groups of 3
- 10 min as the drill is written
- Cones
Grab Four cones and a ball for the group.
Build Build a 12-by-12-yard grid using the four cones.
Place Three players each take a cone, leaving one cone empty — one player starts with the ball.
- 1
Organize the players
Put three players on three of the four cones, leaving one empty, and give one player the ball.
“One cone each — and keep an eye on the empty one. That's where the passer goes.”
- 2
Show the jobs
Walk the loop — pass to one of your two teammates, then move to the open cone; as the passer moves, their cone becomes the open one, available for the next passer.
“Pass it, then go fill the empty cone — the one you left is open for the next passer.”
- 3
Play
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.
“Two touches — crisp and clean! Pass and move, every single time!”
Look for Movement immediately after the pass — the passer already headed for the open cone as the ball travels.
- 4
Switch and repeat
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.
“New round — this one's one touch. Keep it moving!”
If the passing keeps breaking down, slide the cones out for a bigger grid while they play — then bring it back in as the passes connect.
Go deeper · 2 notes
Why it works
With three players and one open cone, every pass carries a move — passing technique and movement after the pass get worked on every touch, which is what makes it a great warm-up and a good start to a passing session.
What they learn
Good passing technique — crisp passes with good weight — plus movement immediately after the pass and playing in two-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.