Through the Forest: Slalom and Shoot
The children dribble in and out of a row of cones (the trees of the forest) and shoot at a mini goal at the end of their lane.
- Objectives
- Technical: Improve dribbling, Improve finishing
- Physical: Improve coordination
- Concepts
- Technical:Running with the ballShooting
- Physical:Change of directionCoordination
- Focus and load
- Technical5/5
- Tactical1/5
- Physical3/5
- Format
- Circuit
- Approach
- Analytical
- Age
- U6–U10
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Players
- 4–12
- Duration
- 12 min
- Area
- 20 × 14 m
Training diagram
Three lanes: slalom through the trees, shoot from the marker, collect the ball and come back on the outside.
Legend
- Attacker
- Dribble
- Shot
- Ball
- Cone
- Goal
Objective
Dribble with close control around obstacles and finish with a shot at goal.
Organisation
- Three lanes 4–5 m apart. Each lane: four cones in a row 2 m apart, a flat marker 5 m from the goal and a mini goal at the end.
- Two to four children per lane, each with a ball.
Equipment
- Balls 1 per player
- Mini goals × 3
- Cones × 12
- Flat markers × 3
How it works
- The first child in each lane dribbles in and out of the four trees without touching them.
- After the last tree they dribble to the marker and shoot at the mini goal.
- They collect their ball, dribble back on the outside of the lane and join the end of the line.
- The next child goes as soon as the one in front passes the second tree.
- Rounds of 2–3 minutes. Change lanes after each round.
Coaching points
- Small touches, the ball always close to your foot.
- Use both feet: the inside and the outside of the foot to go round the trees.
- Look up at the goal after the last tree.
- Put your standing foot next to the ball when you shoot.
Progressions
- Only the weaker foot in the slalom.
- Add a tree in the shape of a gate that must be crossed with a sole roll.
- Race between lanes: the first goal gets a point.
Regressions
- Move the trees further apart.
- Shoot from closer to the goal.
Variations
- Use the soles: stop the ball with the sole next to each tree before going round it.
Key principles
- Close control.
- Finish every action with a shot.
A simple circuit that links the two things young children enjoy most: dribbling and scoring. Each lane has four trees to slalom through, a marker to shoot from and its own mini goal, so with two or three children per lane nobody waits long. The story of the forest keeps them going, and the coach can change the trees or the shooting spot without changing the set-up.
Use it as
- Technical block
Updated October 29, 2026
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