Passing Star: Pass and Follow Your Ball

Two five-cone stars where you pass across to a cone and run after your ball. Lots of passes, talking and constantly changing partners to warm up.

How to play

1. Set up two stars of five cones 8 m apart, with 2–3 students at each cone (1 min).
2. Inside-foot ground pass across the star, skipping one cone, then run after the pass to that cone (3 min).
3. Add a second ball to each star: look before you pass (2 min).
4. Directional first touch: the first touch sets the ball up toward the next cone (3 min).
5. Final challenge: 20 passes in a row without the ball leaving the star (1 min).

Rules

• Say the receiver's name before passing.
• Ground passes only; lofted balls don't count.
• Run around the outside of the star to avoid the ball.
• If the ball gets away, the passer chases it.

Variations

Adaptations

• Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: replace the name call with an agreed hand signal before passing.
• Leg injury: stays at one cone as a passer without running.
• Beginners: may stop the ball with the sole before passing.

Learning goals

• Pass along the ground with the inside of the foot.
• Communicate with a name or signal before every pass.
• Move after passing to take a new spot.

Equipment for a class of 25

• soccer balls: 5
• cones: 10

Teacher tip

Alternating cone colors help students see the "skip one" pattern. The common mistake is admiring your pass: drill "pass and move".

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