Football-adapted gameFun Games
Cone Knockdown
Two teams in their own half pass along the ground to knock down the opponents' cones while blocking shots at their own. Simple rules, lots of passes.
- Age
- U6–U12
- Players
- 6–12
- Duration
- 12 min
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Intensity
- Medium
- Area
- 20 × 15 m
- Type
- Technical
- Approach
- Intermediate
- Format
- Football-adapted game
- Objectives
- Technical: Passing
- Tactical: Decision making
- Concepts worked on
- Technical:PassingInterception
Training diagram
Each team defends five cones on its own end line and passes along the ground to knock down the other team's cones. Nobody crosses the halfway line.
Legend
- Attacker
- Defender
- Pass
- Run without ball
- Shot
- Ball
- Cone
Cone Knockdown is a target game that makes young players pass with purpose. Every ball struck is either a pass to a teammate in a better position or a shot at a cone, and every ball coming from the other side must be stopped or blocked. Because nobody can cross the halfway line, there is no crowding around the ball and even the shyest players get plenty of touches.
Objective
Strike the ball along the ground with the inside of the foot towards a target, and stop incoming balls with a controlled first touch.
Organisation
- Mark a 20 × 15 m area split into two halves with flat markers.
- Each team places five tall cones 1 m in front of its own end line.
- Two teams of 3–6 players, each in its own half. Each team starts with three balls.
- Keep spare balls behind each end line.
How it works
- Players pass or shoot along the ground from their own half to knock down the other team's cones.
- Nobody may cross the halfway line or use their hands, and nobody may stand still in front of their own cones.
- Players stop incoming balls with their feet and play them straight away: pass to a free teammate or shoot at a cone.
- A knocked-down cone is removed. The first team to knock down all five cones wins; otherwise the team with more cones standing after 3 minutes wins.
- Play 3–4 rounds with 1 minute of rest; the coach resets the cones.
Coaching points
- Standing foot next to the ball, pointing at the target.
- Strike through the middle of the ball with the inside of the foot so it stays on the ground.
- If you have no clear shot, pass to a teammate with a better angle.
- Get in line with incoming balls and stop them with the sole or the inside of the foot.
Progressions
- Shots only count after a pass between two teammates.
- Use smaller targets (flat markers with a ball on top) or place the cones further back.
- Two touches maximum per player.
Regressions
- U6: roll the ball with the hands for the first round, then with the feet.
- More cones per team and a narrower area.
- Allow players to dribble up to the halfway line before shooting.
Variations
- Add a 2 m no-go zone in the middle so shots have to travel further.
- Each team has a goalkeeper who may use their hands inside a small area in front of the cones.
Key principles
- Pass along the ground and with intent.
- Receive and play quickly before the opponents get organised.
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