PRACTICE GAME
"Dribble Around Cone & Pass Relay Race"
(Speed dribbling, turning, passing, receiving, kicking a ball
while running, All ages)
WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS GAME. IT REALLY WORKS AND IS
SELF-TEACHING. IT TEACHES SPEED DRIBBLING, PASSING,
RECEIVING, TURNING, KICKING A BALL WHILE RUNNING AND
UNDER PRESSURE, AND TEACHES RECEIVERS TO MOVE TO THE BALL.
YOU WILL SEE FAST RESULTS AND SET-UP IS EASY.
(Note: The passing part of this may be too hard for U-6. If so, just
have them stick to "Dribble Around Cone & Back Relay Race").
Summary:
Divide into teams with 2 players per team. (It's okay if one of
the teams has an extra player, or a parent can play). Players
race around a "Turning Cone" that is about 6 to 15 steps from
the "Starting Cone" and the dribbler can pass to the waiting
teammate as soon as the he goes around the "Turning Cone".
One point for each completed pass. This is a good game to
play right after "Dribble Across A Square", because you can
use the cones that are already on the ground.
Teaches:
Speed dribbling (aka "Running With The Ball"), turning, passing
and receiving at "Game Speed" and while under pressure. It
also teaches the Passer how to kick the ball while running and
under pressure, to pass quickly after having made a turn, and
that the Passer should quickly move after making a pass (and
not stand still, so it helps teach the concept of "Movement Off
The Ball", as opposed to making a pass and just standing
there). It also teaches Receivers that they must anticipate the
pass and be alert and move to the ball, instead of waiting for
the ball to come straight to their feet (this is a common mistake
young players make - they wait for the ball to come to them,
instead of going to the ball - in this Practice Game they will
learn to watch for the pass and anticipate it's direction and
move to the ball - if they don't, they will lose the game, because
there will be bad passes and the receivers that stop those bad
passes or run to the weak passes will win the game). You can
also teach Receivers to come to slow or short passes (so they
get to the ball quickly), and to one-touch block the pass in front
of them as a way to go faster. The game also teaches the
Passer that proper "weight" of the pass is very important (the
pass can't be too hard or too slow). It can also be used to
teach the receiver one-touch control, playing the pass into
open space, and a quick first step into open space (as
opposed to "2-touching" the ball and giving opponents
time to close in). This one-touch style of play should
greatly help your attack and your players will get used to
one-touch and see the advantages. If they don't learn to
one-touch,they will lose this game. They will also learn
when to one-touch and to only 2-touch when they can't
one-touch.
Set-up:
1. Divide the players into teams of 2 players each. It's okay
if one of the teams has an extra player (or a parent can
play). Try to balance the teams so they have equal
ability. After each game or two, you can change the
teams.
2. Each team has one ball.
3. Use cones to make a "Starting Cone" and a "Turning
Cone" for each team. Put the "Turning Cone" 6-15 adult
steps away from the Starting Cone, as shown below.
The distance you put the cones apart will depend on the
age and ability of the players. Example, for U-10 Rec,
put the cones about 8 adult steps apart. Put 4 to 6 adult
steps between each pair of cones, so players have room
to make a bad pass without getting in the adjacent
team's way.
4. Line each team up beside the Right Side of their
Starting Cone, so all the teams are turning in the same
direction (to the left).
5. After each game, have the teams start beside the Left
Side of the Starting Cones, so in the 2nd game they are
turning to the right.
6. After the teams have played 2 games (one turning left
and one turning right), you can change the teams so
they are more competitive or just for fun. Another good
reason to change is that players need to get used to
receiving other player's passes.
7. First to 8 wins (This is an intense game. Another reason
to only play to 8 is that if one team makes a really bad
pass, they will probably not be able to catch up). I think
it's better to play to 8 twice and then switch up teams
and play twice again than to only play twice to "10".
8. Teams get one point for each completed pass (define a
completed pass as when the receiver touches the ball).
The Game:
1. Start by lining each team up beside the Right Side of
their Starting Cone, so all the teams are turning in the
same direction (to the left).
2. On "Go", the first player in each line dribbles to the
"Turning Cone", turns around it and passes to his
teammate as soon possible. Encourage the passer to
make an accurate pass (one bad pass can lose the
game). The pass must be accurate and have proper
"weight" (not too hard and not too slow). The receiver
can and should move toward the pass once it is
made (but not before) as a way to go faster
(encourage this - in a game, this will keep the opponent
from stealing the ball, and will train the receiver to GO
TO THE PASS instead of waiting for the pass to hit her
in the feet. Once they are playing well, teach the
receiver to block the ball in front of him (one-touch) so
he can go faster - this is an important game skill and
way to think, as opposed to 2-touch receiving and
standing still waiting for the ball. Tell the Receiver that
MOST IMPORTANT is to stay on his toes so he’s
ready to move either sideways or forward for the
pass. He MUST stop a bad pass and NOT let it go
past him.
3. The "passer" then goes to the Starting Cone and
becomes the Receiver.
4. The "receiver" (who now has the ball) then dribbles
around the cone (around the correct side - for example,
making a left turn) and passes to her waiting teammate.
5. If a team makes an inaccurate pass, the receiver must
run after the ball and doesn't get a point until she
touches the ball. One really bad pass can cause a team
to lose the game.
6. After each game, have the teams start beside the Left
Side of the Starting Cones, so in the 2nd game they are
turning to the right.
7. After the teams have played 2 games (one turning left
and one turning right), you can change the teams so
they are more competitive or just for fun. Another good
reason to change is that players need to get used to
receiving other player's passes.
8. First to 8 wins (This is an intense game. Another reason
to only play to 8 is that if one team makes a really bad
pass, they will probably not be able to catch up). I think
it's better to play to 8 twice and then switch up teams
and play twice again than to only play twice to "10".
9. Teams get one point for each completed pass (define a
completed pass as when the receiver touches the ball).
Scoring:
First team to 8 wins
Note:
The passing part of this may be too hard for U-6. If so, just
have them dribble around the Turning Cone back to their
teammate who then takes the ball.
Things
Your
Players
Can Learn
by Playing
This Game:

Teamwork, Responsibility and the Benefits of
Listening to the Coach and Doing the “Right”
Things (the things the Coach tells them to do). This
Game will teach your players that teamwork is critical.
The Passer and Receiver must BOTH do their jobs and
work together or they will lose. One bad mistake and
they lose. The teams that hustle, are most alert, try the
hardest and listen to the Coach’s tips will do the best
and win the most – those that don’t will lose. Players will
get quick, positive feedback if they are doing the right
things and will quickly see the negative results of NOT
doing the right things – they will have to do the “right”
things if they want to win, and if they don’t, they will lose.
I think most coaches want their players to want to win
and to want to try to do the “right” things. In this Game,
players immediately see the results of listening to the


Coach and doing the “right” things that he tells them to
do. If they listen to the Coach they will win... if they don't,
they will lose, and it will be clear why they lost. It's a very
good way to teach many important things.
Kicking and Passing the Ball While Running. I don’t
have to explain why this is important. A basic and very
important skill is to be able to kick the ball accurately
while running, and the only way to learn that is by
practice. Many coaches spend time on “Shooting Drills”.
I think this Game is a better, more efficient way to
practice this skill. Also, this Game teaches players to
perform the skill while under pressure and at game
speed. If you practice a “Shooting Drill”, how many
actual shots will each player get? 3 to 5? You can play
this Game with pairs (2 players per team), and in 3
games each player will have gotten about 15 shots (i.e.,
15 practices on kicking a ball while running and under
pressure at game speed). You can play 3 games in
about 10-15 minutes. Think about it. The players are
getting 300% to 500% more practices of this skill and
the practices are under pressure and at game speed,
and the players are having fun.
One-Touch Control to Open Space. Want to make
your attack faster and more creative? One of the best
ways is by teaching your players to play faster and to
use “open space”. I think one of the mistakes of U.S.
soccer is teaching that “passing” is to feet. The result is
that many players only know how to “pass to feet” and
their concept of a “pass” is a ball played to a teammate’s
feet. Receiver’s start to think this way too and if a pass
doesn’t come to their feet, they will just stand there and
watch it go past or criticize the passer for making a “bad
pass”. In this Practice Game, a player can either receive
the ball “2-touch” (i.e., stop the ball and THEN start to
dribble). OR he can one-touch block the ball into the
open space in front and run to the ball, which will speed
up his play. This is a concept and style of play that you
want your players to learn because it’s faster and
teaches them to think about how to use “open space” to
advance their attack. When you play the Practice Game,
the teams that play this way will beat those who don’t.
The result will be that all your players will quickly and
clearly see the advantages and want to learn to play this
way. They will be motivated to learn so they can win the
game.



Receiver to Stay on Toes and Stop Bad Passes. As
described above, you MUST teach your player’s to NOT
expect a pass to come to their feet. They MUST stay on
their toes and ready to move in either direction. Their
TOP PRIORITY MUST BE to stop a pass from going
past them, because if that happens the opponent will get
the ball. In this game, if a bad pass goes past the
Receiver, his team WILL LOSE THE GAME.
Receiver Should Move to Ball (Not Wait for Ball to
Come to Feet). In addition to stopping a bad pass, this
Game will teach the receiver to MOVE TO THE PASS.
The rules of this Game allow the receiver to move
toward the pass as soon as the ball is passed. Now, the
receiver will learn that he can’t just rush at the ball
because if the pass isn’t accurate it will go past him, and
one bad pass that isn’t stopped will lose the Game. So,
the Coach should advise players to watch to be sure the
pass is coming toward them before starting their run
toward the pass – they should get in line with the pass.
The way to do this is move to intercept the ball – that is
the first thing to do. Teaching players to move to the
pass has many advantages. You may be thinking “There
are times when the receiver shouldn’t move toward the
pass”. Yes, that’s true, but your players will figure it out.
Moving toward the pass will prevent the pass from being
intercepted by an marking opponent. It also teaches the
receiver to watch the ball’s “line” and to NOT wait for the
ball to come to his feet. It teaches movement and
aggressive play, which are both good things, and that
the receiver shouldn’t wait for the pass to come to his
feet. The teams that move to the ball best will usually
win this game. Your players will quickly and clearly see
the advantages and want to learn to play this way. They
will be motivated to learn so they can win the game.
Accuracy and Proper Weight on Passes in Game
Conditions. This Game teaches players to make
accurate passes that have the proper “weight”. The pass
must be toward the receiver because one bad pass that
the receiver can’t stop will lose the Game. It also
teaches the importance of the proper “weight” on the
pass – the pass shouldn’t be too hard, or the receiver
won’t be able to control it. But is shouldn’t be too soft
either. Players will learn this by playing the Game, and
it’s the role of the Coach to give “Tips” that will help
them play better.


How to Get
Your
Players to
Listen to
You (Tips
for This
Game):
Speed Dribbling: Show players how they can go faster
by “Speed Dribbling” from the start. The first player can
go faster if he kicks the ball in front of him and runs to it
– this is called “Speed Dribbling”. Notice that he can’t
kick it too far or he will go far past the turning cone and
that will slow him down. He will learn about how far to
kick it so he can catch it just before the turning cone and
make the turn. After the first player, each subsequent
player will start as a “receiver” and can block the pass
forward as a way to go faster, but they can’t block it too
far or they will have to chase it farther than necessary.
They will learn by playing the Game, with the Coach
giving them Tips for how to go faster.
Observation as a Teaching Tool. It might be a good
idea to let your players watch the best 2 pairs play this
game and point out what they do right and wrong. The
game can be played to 10 in a few minutes. You can
point out why one team wins and the things they do that
are right and wrong.
This is easier than you think: Let’s say you’re playing “Dribble
Around Cone & Pass Relay Race”. Play it once and ask “Who
wants to win this game?” Tell them you will give them a tip that
will help them win. Here's an example of a tip: Tell them that
the player who starts with the ball can kick the ball in front and
run to it as a way to go faster. Tell them they will just have to
be sure to not kick it too hard. (Demonstrate or have a player
demonstrate). Another tip: Pass the ball as soon as you can
after you have rounded the cone. Another tip: The Receiver
must stay on his toes and watch for whether the pass is going
to his left or right and start to immediately move that way – the
Receiver’s most important job is to STOP the pass, because if
one pass gets by him his team will lose the game (this will start
to teach Receiver’s that they can’t just stand still and wait for
the ball to come to their feet – the Receiver MUST stop the
pass, just as they must in a real game). Another tip: The
Receiver can start moving toward the ball as soon as it is
passed (that’s the rule in this game and probably would also be
how you want the receiver to play in a real game), but the
Receiver can’t just rush at the ball... it’s not that simple... he
must be sure the ball is coming at him, because if it’s a bad
pass he may have to move sideways to stop it. Another tip:
The Receiver can block the ball in front of him and run to it as a
way to speed up (again, this is good training for a real game).
Another one: The pass MUST be accurate... one bad pass
can lose the game... the pass needs to not be too hard, but it
can’t be too easy either... they will learn the proper “weight” by
playing this game. These are some of the things this game
teaches, and your players will learn by playing the game. If you
use this approach, it changes your role from a nagging coach
to a guy who is giving his players tips so the can improve. The
reason it works is that when they are playing our games they
will see IMMEDIATE results... so they are getting immediate
positive feedback and seeing that your “tips” really work. They
will see that the players who follow the coaches’ tips win more
games than those who don’t... those who listen will win, and
those who don’t listen will lose.
From www.soccerhelp.com
Copyright 1999-2007, David and Kay Huddleston