3-Minute Shooting Drill
One team attacks in fast waves — dribble hard and shoot before the box — while the other team hunts down wide shots behind the goal, and every three minutes the jobs flip.
Shooting, goalkeeping, and clearing balls from the back all get work at once — an excellent warm-up for a shooting or clearing practice.
The weekly budget is the part coaches miss. A coach who runs heading twice in a week is not being reckless, they are unaware there is a cumulative cap at all — say the cap, then trust the trained adult: about 30 minutes and 15-20 headers per player per week, everything counted, including games.
Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive
- Grab: Cones, a ball for every attacker, and your full-size goal.
- Build: Nothing to build unless the penalty area isn't visible — then set cones on its edge to serve as the shot marker.
- Place: One team spreads out behind the goal, the other lines up at midfield with a ball each, and the keeper takes the goal.
Show me the setup picture
One thing to remember: Quick attacks and properly striking the ball on target — and for the defenders, clearing with good solid contact, playing the ball high and wide.
How it runs — the whole game in one sentence
Attackers dribble with speed and shoot before entering the box while the defenders behind the goal keep wide shots alive — three minutes, then the teams switch roles.
1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Split into two teams and put the keeper in the goal. Send one team to spread out behind the goal, and line the other up at midfield with a ball for every attacker.
Coach says
Shooters at midfield, one ball each. Everybody else — behind the goal. You're working too.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk the scoring — each attacker dribbles with speed to the edge of the box and must shoot before getting into the penalty area, and the next player starts the moment the shot is taken. A goal is a point for the attackers. A wide shot belongs to the defenders behind the goal — play it back and wide to the field before it stops dead. If it stops dead, that's a point for the attackers; clear it, or get two touches before it touches the ground, and the point is the defenders'.
Coach says
Dribble hard, shoot before the box. Behind the goal — nothing stops dead back there. First time — high and wide!
3Play▾
Coach does
Run three minutes on the attack, keeping the waves quick — shooter after shooter — and the strikes on target. Keep the defenders making good solid contact, playing the ball high and wide.
Coach says
Quick attacks — hit the target! Back there — solid contact, high and wide!
Look for: The strike before the line — attackers shooting on target at speed without drifting into the penalty area.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
After three minutes, switch the teams' roles and run it again. Change the look between rounds — serve balls to the attackers at varying heights and angles before they start on goal, or set cones at varying distances to give the shooter and keeper different choices.
Coach says
Switch! Shooters, you're behind the goal now. This round I'm serving it in first.
If it's not working
If goals never come, score it the younger way — one point for a shot on target, two for a goal — and the attack has something to chase again.
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: Give young players one point for a ball shot on target and two points for a goal.