Most young teams clump together around the ball. This drill forces spacing so they learn to spread and pass.

Equipment needed: 6 cones, 10-12 kids, 3-4 soccer balls, a 40-by-30-yard space.

Setup: Mark three zones with cones: a back zone (20 yards wide at one end), a middle zone (20 yards wide in the middle), a forward zone (20 yards wide at the other end). Kids are divided into three groups: defenders, midfielders, forwards.

How to run it:

  1. Defenders pass in the back zone. When ready, they pass to a midfielder.
  2. Midfielder receives and passes to a forward.
  3. Forward shoots or passes back.
  4. Ball goes back to defense and repeats.
  5. Rule: No one leaves their zone. Defenders stay in the back, midfielders in the middle, forwards in the front.
  6. Play for 10 minutes, then rotate positions and play another 10.

What to look for: Spacing and movement. Do they spread out in their zones or bunch up? Bunching means no one is open.

Variation: For younger kids (8-9), reduce zones to two (back and forward). For older kids (10), add an offside line so they practice not bunching up when receiving.