Instep Shooting Drill
Partners face off across the grid and drive instep shots at the tall cones in the middle — knock one over for a point, and the first to 5 wins the match.
The instep drive — laces, toe pointed down, ankle locked — is an essential way to strike a shot, and scoring on cones turns the technique into a game.
Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive
- Grab: Six to ten tall cones — your pick — and a ball for every pair.
- Build: Mark out a grid 25 by 25 yards and stand the tall cones in the middle of it.
- Place: Partners on opposite sides of the grid, facing each other, one ball between them.
Show me the setup picture
One thing to remember: The instep drive — striking with the shoelaces, toe pointed down and ankle locked, the plant foot beside and slightly behind the ball pointed at the target, landing on the kicking foot for full weight transfer, and accuracy.
How it runs — the whole game in one sentence
Players drive the ball with the instep across to their partner's side, earning a point for every tall cone knocked over — first player to 5 points wins the match.
1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Divide the team into pairs and send partners to opposite sides of the grid, facing each other with one ball. Stand your 6 to 10 tall cones in the middle.
Coach says
Find your partner — you're on that side, they're on this one. Those cones in the middle? Targets.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Show the strike — the ball is driven with the instep, the shoelaces, toe pointed down and ankle locked. Knock over a cone and that's a point; any player on the side can return the ball the same way. First to 5 points wins the match.
Coach says
Laces, toe down, ankle locked — drive it through the cones. Knock one over, that's a point. First to five wins.
3Play▾
Coach does
Watch the technique rep by rep — the non-kicking foot beside the ball and slightly behind it, pointed at the target, and players landing on their kicking foot so the full body weight transfers through the strike. Keep the focus on accuracy.
Coach says
Plant foot at your target — and land on your shooting foot. Let your whole body drive it!
Look for: The full instep strike — shoelaces, toe pointed down, ankle locked — finished by landing on the kicking foot.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
Stand the fallen cones back up and play the next match to 5.
Coach says
Cones up! New game — zero to zero.
If it's not working
If the cones never fall, tighten the grid while they play — a shorter drive gives the technique a chance to land.
Want to go deeper? Optional — not needed to run the game.
Why are we doing this?
What are they learning?
How can I change it?
Easier: For younger players, run the same game with inside-of-the-foot passing.