Three-Cone Passing Drill

Two players share a three-cone triangle — pass to your partner, then sprint to the empty cone before the return pass comes.

Passing, awareness, and movement after the pass — a great warmup for passing technique with the movement built in.

Ages 9+Pairs10 minCones

Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive

Grab: Three cones and a ball for the pair.
Build: Build an 8-yard triangle using the three cones.
Place: Both players take a cone, leaving the third empty — one starts with the ball.

Show me the setup picture

An 8-yard cone triangle with a player on two of the corners, the third corner 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 your partner, then move to the open cone — your cone becomes the open one, and the round runs 2 minutes.

1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Put the two players on two of the three cones, leaving one empty, and give one player the ball.
Coach says
One corner each — the empty corner is where you're headed after you pass.
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 run to the empty corner — the one you left is open for your partner next.
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! Pass it and move, don't stand and watch!
Look for: Movement immediately after the pass — the passer already running for the empty corner as the ball travels.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
Reset and run more 2-minute rounds. For later rounds, resize the field, limit the pair to one-touch passing, or add a combination or 1-2 pass.
Coach says
New round — one touch only. Stay sharp!

If it's not working

If the passing keeps breaking down, slide the triangle wider 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?

With two players and always one empty corner, there is a move attached to every single pass — passing, awareness, and movement after the pass get worked on every touch, which is what makes it a great warmup.

What are they learning?

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