Dribbling and Passing Warm-up
Dribble out, cut it back, backpedal deeper, then take the long ball with one touch and send it home — and the next player runs the same loop.
A great start to a dribbling or passing session — it quickly gets the blood pumping and players' legs warm.
10 min tonight · Groups of 3–4 per grid
- Ages 10+
- Groups of 3–4 per grid
- 10 min as the drill is written
- Cones, balls
Grab Cones for the grids and starting cones, and balls.
Build Build an 8-by-8 grid about 8 yards off the sideline for each group of 3 to 4, with a starting cone on the sideline aligned with the center of its box.
Place A group of 3 to 4 players lined up at each starting cone, the first player in line with the ball.
- 1
Organize the players
Split the team into groups of 3 to 4, one grid each, lined up behind the starting cone on the sideline with the first player on the ball.
“Threes and fours — own your grid. First one in line, the ball is yours.”
- 2
Show the jobs
Walk the loop — the first player dribbles to the first set of cones, cuts the ball, and returns it to the next player in line; the working player then backpedals to the next set of cones, takes the ball played back to them with a touch, and returns it to the next player waiting. Then the next player repeats the same steps.
“Dribble, cut, give it back. Backpedal deep — the long ball's coming. One touch, send it home, next player goes.”
- 3
Play
Keep the loops rolling in every grid. Emphasize communication, quick passes, good touches on receiving the ball, and fluid movement.
“Talk to each other! Quick passes — soft first touch!”
Look for Good touches on the receive — the long ball controlled cleanly and returned inside fluid movement.
- 4
Switch and repeat
Repeat for 7 to 8 minutes or until players are warmed up. For a twist, take the first dribble to the farthest cones and add a move along the way — a step-over, a body feint — or serve the long ball as a throw-in to focus on trapping and receiving those balls.
“This round, add a move at the cones — step-over, feint, your pick. Long balls are throw-ins now!”
If the loop keeps tangling, freeze it and ask — where does the ball go after the cut? Let them answer, then play on.
Go deeper · 2 notes
Why it works
The loop packs dribbling, cutting, backpedaling, and receiving into one continuous circuit — which is why it quickly gets the blood pumping and the legs warm at the start of a dribbling or passing session.
What they learn
Dribbling and passing on the move — cutting the ball, quick passes, communication, good touches on receiving, and fluid movement.
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.