3-Man Box Passing Warmup

One worker inside a small cone box, two passers outside — receive, open up, pass out the other side, then sprint around a corner cone as the ball comes back.

Opening the body, scanning the field, and passing accurately on the move are game habits — this warmup works all three on every single touch.

Ages 9+3 per station (1 worker, 2 passers)10 minCones, balls

Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive

Grab: Four cones for the box, a ball — and colored cones for the corners if you'll run the color variation.
Build: Build a 4-by-4-yard square with the four cones.
Place: One worker inside the box and the two passers 7 to 10 yards away on adjacent sides of it.

Show me the setup picture

A small 4-by-4 cone box with the worker inside and two passers standing 7 to 10 yards off adjacent sides, one with the ball.

One thing to remember: Opening up on the half-turn, a back-foot first touch, scanning with the eyes up, accurate passes with proper weight and direction, and quick, purposeful movement between touches.

How it runs — the whole game in one sentence

A passer plays into the worker, who opens up, takes a touch, and passes out to the other passer — then sprints around one of the four cones as the ball comes back the other way.

1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Make stations of three — one worker inside the box, two passers on adjacent sides, 7 to 10 yards out.
Coach says
One of you lives in the box. You two — adjacent sides, a good seven to ten yards back.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk the cycle — a passer plays the ball into the worker; the worker opens up, takes a touch, and passes to the other outside passer; after the pass, the worker sprints around one of the four cones; the second passer returns the ball, and the sequence repeats in the opposite direction.
Coach says
Open up as it comes — touch, pass to the other side, then around a cone. It's already coming back.
3Play▾
Coach does
Run the cycle for 30 to 60 seconds. Watch for receiving on the half-turn, a first touch off the back foot that sets up a clean pass, eyes up to locate both passers and anticipate what's next, sprints with purpose that keep eyes on the ball around the cones and reset quickly, and every pass played with proper weight and direction.
Coach says
Half-turn! Back foot! Eyes up — know where your next pass lives before the ball gets there.
Look for: The open body shape — receiving on the half-turn so the next pass is already on.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
Rotate roles every 30 to 60 seconds so each player gets time as the worker. For later rounds, put colored cones on the corners and have a passer call the color the worker must round, ask advanced players for one-touch play, go weaker foot only, count clean passes in 60 seconds, or add a second worker.
Coach says
Rotate — new worker in! This round, they call the color of your corner.

If it's not working

If the worker never has time to open up, walk the passers in a couple of steps while they play, then back them out as the touches get cleaner.

Want to go deeper? Optional — not needed to run the game.

Why are we doing this?

The continuous cycle asks the worker to open the body, scan for both passers, and play accurate passes while moving — technical habits that translate directly to game situations — while the cone sprints add the physical readiness and mental sharpness that set the tone for a high-quality practice session.

What are they learning?

Opening up on the half-turn, a back-foot first touch, scanning with the eyes up, accurate passes with proper weight and direction, and quick, purposeful movement between touches.

How can I change it?

Harder: Try one-touch play — or add a second worker for more intensity and decision-making.