Partner Pass and Move Warm-up
Pairs roam the grid passing only to each other — inside of the foot to pass, inside of the foot to receive, and a move to a new spot after every ball.
Young players learn to pass with the correct surface of the foot, receive a ball, and move again after receiving — the whole pass-and-move habit in one warm-up.
Set up · 3 actions · before the kids arrive
- Grab: Cones for the grid and a ball for every pair.
- Build: Build a 20-by-20 grid — you can change the size based on the number of players.
- Place: Pairs spread through the grid, one ball between each pair.
Show me the setup picture
One thing to remember: Passing and receiving with the inside of the foot, moving after the pass, getting the body behind the path of the ball, and the right weight and pace on every pass.
How it runs — the whole game in one sentence
Each pair moves around the grid passing only to each other, inside of the foot both ways, with every player moving again the moment their pass is gone.
1Organize the players▾
Coach does
Split the group into pairs with one ball per pair and send them into the grid.
Coach says
Find a partner — one ball between you. The whole grid is yours; keep moving.
2Show the jobs▾
Coach does
Walk the rules — each pair passes only to their partner while moving around the grid, and every pass and every reception uses the inside of the foot.
Coach says
Inside of the foot — pass it, receive it. And nobody stands still after they pass.
3Play▾
Coach does
Watch the details — inside of the foot for both trapping and passing, the receiver's body moved behind the path of the ball, movement after every pass, and the right amount of weight and pace on each ball.
Coach says
Get your body behind it! Pass and move — find a new spot!
Look for: The move after the pass — passers immediately off to a new spot, receivers with their body behind the path of the ball.
4Switch and repeat▾
Coach does
Keep the pairs working. For later rounds, restrict the number of touches — the count is yours to pick.
Coach says
New round — I'm counting your touches now!
If it's not working
If the grid is too crowded to move through, slide the cones out while they play — the grid is sized to your numbers — then bring it back in.
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?
Harder: Restrict the number of touches.