Coach's Revenge
Attackers Defenders Neutral Goalkeeper Pass Run Dribble Shot
Coach's Revenge is a fun soccer warm-up drill that gets young players moving fast while sneaking in agility work. Kids from U5 to U10 sprint from one end of the grid to the other while the coach tries to tag them with rolled passes below the knee. It doubles as a brilliant ice-breaker for the first session of the season, and the players will beg for it every week.
Want more? See all our soccer warm-ups drills or jump to U8 soccer drills for this age group.
Setup
- Mark out a grid roughly 25×30 yards. Shrink or grow it to suit your age group and squad size.
- Line every player up along one end line, no balls needed.
- The coach (or coaches) stands in the middle of the grid with the entire ball supply.
How It Works
- On your call, all players sprint from their end line to the opposite one.
- As they cross, kick balls along the ground and try to hit runners below the knee.
- Anyone who gets hit collects a ball and joins you in the middle for the next crossing, hunting the remaining runners.
- Keep sending the survivors back and forth. The last player never hit is the winner.
Coaching Points
- Demand full sprints across the grid - no jogging through the middle.
- Get heads up: players should scan for incoming balls, not stare at their feet.
- Keep all strikes on the ground and below the knee for safety.
- Above all, keep the energy high - this one is meant to be fun.
Variations
- Give each runner a ball and have them dribble across, so tagged players must dodge while keeping control.
- Add a second coach in the middle from the start to raise the pressure for older groups.