Soccer Star Challenge Test1: Running with the Ball
Purpose: run with the ball as fast as possible inside the cone-marked lane from start to finish.
PASSING ZONE
10 yards
10 yards
FINISH
START
Test Layout: Set up 8 cones as shown in the diagram in a 30yard long x 2yard wide lane in an area
with as smooth a surface as available. 30yard long lane is marked by 3-10yard long sections by
evenly spaced cones.
2 yds
wide
lane
10 yards
Running the Test:
1. Player starts with ball at starting line.
2. Player runs as fast as possible down the 2yard wide lane while speed dribbling the ball
(running w/ the ball) NOTE: fewer ball touches is generally faster but player must maintain
control the ball within the lane to get the fastest time.
3. Timer starts clock when the player 1st moves ball off the starting line.
4. Timer stops clock when ball cross finish line and must pass BETWEEN THE FINAL 2
CONES. Player can either run the ball over the finish line OR may pass the ball over the finish
line.
5. IMPORTANT: Player can only pass the ball over the finish line once the ball has entered the
final 10yard “PASSING ZONE” section of the lane AND ball must cross the finish line no higher
than 2 feet above the ground.
6. Attempt receives NO SCORE anytime the ball does not cross the finish line BETWEEN the
final cones (whether dribbled or passed), or if the ball is passed across the finish line from
before the “PASSING ZONE”.
7. Every player gets 1 chance to record a score.
8. If a player slips & falls over, the ball misses the final 2 cones, passes the ball before the final
10yard section, or ball crosses finish line higher than 2ft off ground, the score is ZERO for 1st
attempt. Player gets 1 more chance (2 max). If player fails on 2nd attempt, the score is ZERO.
Scoring the Test:
1. Record Time (to 0.1sec) on Scoring Sheet
Soccer Star Challenge Test2: Turning with the Ball
Purpose: Demonstrate 9 total turns (180deg change of direction) w/ ball, as quickly as possible, with
3 different types of turns.
Test Layout: Set up 4 cones as shown in the diagram in a 5yard x 5yard square
3rdT
1stT
LineB
5yd
LineA: Start/Finish
Running the Test:
Start
2ndT
Finish
1. Player starts with ball on Start/Finish line A and dribbles across the square to line B and
executes a 180deg turning skill, then returns to line A and executes a 2 nd 180deg turning skill,
then returns back to line B and executes a 3rd 180deg turning skill and returns back to the
starting line A. NOTE: all 3 turning skills must be the same TYPE of turning move ie. inside
hook, outside hook, drag back, Cruyff, stop/turn, etc. Player may alternate feet to execute the
3 turning skills but they must all 3 be the same type of turning move.
2. The clock starts when the player 1st moves ball off starting line A.
3. The clock stops when player cross finish line A and stops the ball by putting his foot on the ball
beyond the start/finish line. Record the time for TURN1 on the scoresheet.
4. Repeat test using a DIFFERENT type of 180deg turning skill turn than used for TURN1.
Again, all 3 turns must be the same TYPE. Record the time for TURN2 on the scoresheet.
5. Repeat test using a DIFFERENT type of turn than used for TURN1 and TURN2.
6. Every player will have 3 TURNS with each TURN performing a different turning skill. ie.
TURN1=3 inside hooks; TURN2=3 outside hooks; TURN3=3 pullbacks, etc.
7. If a player falls down, fails to cross lines A or B when turning, fails to stop the ball beyond the
finish line, or changes turn type within a TURN, or repeats a turn type already performed,
player should be retested ONCE for that movement with 2 max attempts for each movement.
If no clean test for 2 attempts, score is ZERO.
Scoring the Test:
1. Record all 3 times (TURN1, TURN2, TURN3 to 0.1sec) on Scoring Sheet for each player. To
maintain interest, let each player run TURN1, then move to the 2nd TURN, then 3rd. It is helpful
to verbally call out the TYPE of turn as they execute it so they remember to perform the same
type each time for that TURN.
Soccer Star Challenge Test3: Speed+Agility
Purpose: Run as quickly as possible AROUND each cone in the zig-zag arrangement from start to
finish demonstrating speed while changing directions without the ball.
Test Layout: Set up 8 cones in the 25yard x 10yard zig-zag pattern as shown in the diagram.
5yds
5yds
5yds
5yds
5yds
FINISH LINE
10yds
START LINE
Running the Test:
1. Player starts at START LINE between 2 start cones and runs as fast as possible around the
zig-zag pattern of cones to the FINISH LINE. NOTE: NO ball used for this test.
2. Clock starts at timer’s “GO” signal when timer calls out “Ready – Set – GO”
3. Clock stops when player crosses finish line
4. If player fails to run around any cone or falls down, player gets ZERO score and can be retested with max 2 attempts. If no score after 2 attempts, player gets ZERO for this test. Retest players can go to the end of the line to allow max rest period.
Scoring the Test:
1. Record time (to 0.1sec) on Scoring Sheet.
Soccer Star Challenge Test4: Dribbling
Purpose: Dribble with the ball as quickly as possible AROUND each cone in the zig-zag arrangement
from start to finish demonstrating speed and dribbling control while changing directions with the ball.
Test Layout: Set up 8 cones in the 25yard x 10yard zig-zag pattern as shown in the diagram. NOTE:
same cone layout as used in Test3: Speed+Agility.
5yds
5yds
5yds
5yds
5yds
FINISH
10yds
START
Running the Test:
1. Player starts with the ball on starting line between 2 start cones and dribbles with the ball as
fast as possible around each cone in the zig-zag pattern of cones to the finish line.
2. Clock starts at timer’s “GO” signal when timer calls out “Ready – Set – GO”
3. Clock stops when player crosses finish line AND stops ball under foot beyond finish line.
4. If ball fails to go around any cone or player falls down, or ball isn’t stopped beyond finish line,
player gets ZERO score and can be re-tested with max 2 total attempts. If no score after 2
attempts, player gets ZERO for this test. Re-test players can go to the end of the line to allow
max rest period.
Scoring the Test:
1. Record time (to 0.1sec) on Scoring Sheet.
Soccer Star Challenge Test5: Heading
Purpose: Head the ball into the goal with accuracy (goes in goal) and power
Test Layout: Set up 5 cones arranged in front of the goal as shown in the diagram. NOTE: key
dimensions of the test cone layout depend on the age group of players being tested: U8, U11,
over11.
Age/
Division
Player/Receiver
U11
Over11
2 yds
6 yds
12 yds
18 yds
6x6
6x6
Line B
Serving Box
.
LineB
(dist
from
GL)
6 yds
Serving
Box Size
U8
LineA
(dist
from
GL)
0 yds
(WxD yds)
Coach/Server
4ydx4yd
Line A
Goal Line (GL)
Goal
Running the Test:
1. The ball Server (coach) stands on Line A facing away from goal.
2. The ball Receiver (player) stands on LineB at far end of serving box
3. Server lobs the ball underhand at around head height so that if the ball fell to the ground, it
would land in the serving box. Quality of the lob/toss is crucial: Repeat any toss if Server is
unhappy with the quality of the serve.
4. Receiver judges the ball/service & moves forward and heads the ball toward the goal with
accuracy and power as if trying to score in the goal.
Scoring the Test:
1. 2 Points if ball goes into the goal AND the ball crosses the goal line IN THE AIR (without hitting
the ground 1st).
2. 1 Point if ball goes into the goal AND the ball crosses the goal line on 1 bounce (only hits the
ground once before crossing the goal line and going in)
3. 0 Points for anything else (misses goal, hits goal & bounces out, bounces 2 or more times
before going in goal).
4. Record score for each attempt. Each player gets 3 “quality-serve” attempts.
Soccer Star Challenge Test6: Shooting
Purpose: Shoot the ball toward the goal with proper power technique (laces only) and accuracy to hit
the farthest third of the goal (“Far Post”) to get the maximum # of points.
Test Layout: Set up 9 cones arranged as shown near goal (or use additional corner flags/cones to
simulate a goal if no goal is available) as shown in the diagram. Start cone is placed at the top of the
arc. The 4 shooting cones are placed 18 yards away (see table for proper distance for younger age
groups) from goal and at the left and right edge of the goal posts. Goal is split into 1/3’s by cones.
Goal Width, W
W/3
1Pt
W/3
3Pt
W/3
2Pt
W/3
1Pt
W/3
0Pt
Line B
Age Goal
Width,
W
U8
12ft
U11
18ft
Over11 24ft
LineALineB
10yd
14yd
18yd
NOTE: mirror image everything
for Left-Footed shooter
3yd
Line A
Shoot: for Rt-Foot
Shooter
Dribble:
for Rt-Foot Shooter
Running the Test:
Start
1. Player starts at Cone1 and dribbles ball right or left (to the right for right-footed shooters and to
the left for left-footed shooters) toward the Cones at Line A.
2. When reaching Line A, player touches the ball into the penalty area and shoots ball toward
goal WHILE THE BALL IS STILL MOVING to be counted as a VALID kick.
3. The ball must be kicked from no more than 3 yards inside the penalty area (15yds from goal),
must be kicked with the laces (not the toe, not sidefooted) to be a VALID kick. Player gets 2
max attempts. If player has not achieved a VALID kick in 2 attempts, receives ZERO score for
that attempt.
Scoring the Test:
1.
2.
3.
4.
For VALID kicks: 3 Points for ball that goes into goal in far third of goal.
For VALID kicks: 2 Points for ball that goes into goal in center third of goal.
For VALID kicks: 1 Point for ball that goes into goal in near third of goal.
For VALID kicks: 1 Point for ball that goes between far post and flag/cone 3yds wide of far
post. For VALID kicks, score= 0 Pts for everything else. Each player gets 3 attempts.