Soccer Warm-up Game
Red Light, Green Light
Dribble on green, slow down on yellow, and stop the ball with your sole on red. A fun first game for close control and listening.
Step 1 of 7
Everyone has a ball. Watch 1. Start line at the bottom, finish line at the top. The coach calls the colors.
- Time
- 10 min
- Players
- 3–10
- Ages
- 4–8U5–U9
- Pace
- Light
Works on
- Ball control
Set up
- Make a start line and a finish line with 2 cones each, about 20 to 25 yards apart.
- Every player has a ball and stands on the start line.
- The coach stands past the finish line and calls out the colors.
- Space
- 20 x 25 yards
- You need
- 4 cones · 1 ball per player
How to play
- Green light: dribble forward with small touches.
- Yellow light: slow down and use tiny touches.
- Red light: stop the ball with the sole of your foot and freeze.
- If you lose the ball or move on red, take three steps back.
- When you cross the finish line, turn around and dribble back to the start line.
Coaching points
- Small touches, so the ball stays close like it is on a string.
- Eyes up to watch the coach, then a quick look at the ball.
- Stop the ball with the bottom of your foot, not by kicking it away.
- Bend your knees a little so you can freeze without falling over.
Easier
Use only green and red, and make the field shorter. Let the youngest players walk with the ball at first.
Harder
Add new calls, like Turn (turn and go the other way) or Switch (use your other foot only). Call the colors faster.
Run it at your next practice
With a free account, put Red Light, Green Light in a practice plan with its minutes and water breaks. At the field the clock moves on to the next drill by itself.