Soccer Dribbling Drill
Dribble Through the Gates
Everyone dribbles a ball through as many different cone gates as they can in 60 seconds, with their head up to find an open gate.
Step 1 of 7
Everyone has a ball. Watch 1. Four gates here; use 6 to 8. On Go, dribble for 60 seconds.
- Time
- 10 min
- Players
- 4–10
- Ages
- 5–10U6–U11
- Pace
- Intense
Works on
- Ball control
- Stamina
Set up
- Mark a 25 x 25 yard grid. Scatter 6-8 gates inside it. A gate is two cones about 2 yards apart.
- Everyone has a ball and starts next to a gate.
- It is the same setup as Passing Through Gates, so you can run the two back to back.
- Space
- 25 x 25 yards
- You need
- 4 cones for the corners · 12-16 cones for 6-8 gates · 1 ball per player · Stopwatch or phone timer · 1 pinnie for the harder version
How to play
- On Go, dribble through as many different gates as you can in 60 seconds.
- Count your gates out loud. You cannot go through the same gate twice in a row.
- If a gate is busy, find an open one. No crashing into each other.
- Rest 30 seconds, then go again and try to beat your score.
- Each round, add a rule: inside of the foot only, outside only, or your weaker foot only.
Coaching points
- Small touches. Keep the ball close so you can turn fast.
- Look up between touches to spot an open gate.
- Use both feet: inside, outside and the sole.
- Speed up into open space after each gate.
Easier
Make the gates wider and add more of them. Skip the clock and just count gates.
Harder
Stop the ball dead in each gate with the sole, then go. Or add a gatekeeper in a pinnie who tries to win balls. If they win yours, you swap.
Run it at your next practice
With a free account, put Dribble Through the Gates in a practice plan with its minutes and water breaks. At the field the clock moves on to the next drill by itself.