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PassingBeginner

Gate Passing

Pairs pass through small cone gates scattered around the grid — a fun way to develop passing accuracy and communication.

10 min
4–12 players
12–16 cones, 1 ball per pair

Objective

Improve passing accuracy and develop the habit of looking for targets before passing.

Gate Passing youth soccer drill demonstration

Visual Concept

PGate PassingPass through scattered cone gates

Top-down diagram — Passing drill layout

Setup

Set up 6–8 gates (two cones 1 yard apart) randomly around a 20x20 grid. Players work in pairs with one ball.

How to Run It

1

Find a gate

One player dribbles toward any gate. Their partner positions themselves on the other side.

2

Pass through

Player passes through the gate to their partner. A point is scored for each clean pass through.

3

Move to a new gate

After each pass, both players move to a different gate. No using the same gate twice in a row.

4

Count the score

How many gates can a pair pass through in 60 seconds? Compete against other pairs.

Coaching Cues

Look up to find your partner before you pass

Aim for the middle of the gate

Your partner should be ready — communicate!

Firm, low pass — not a chip

Variations

  • One-touch only — no controlling before passing
  • Score double points for passes through the smallest gates

Equipment Needed

  • 12–16 cones
  • 1 ball per pair

Shop This Drill

Training Cones (50-pack)Most Popular

Classic tall cones for slalom drills, grids, and field marking.

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Size 4 Soccer BallU9–U12

Standard for U9–U12. Great for skill development and drill work.

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Tags

passing accuracypairsU8U10communication
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