Game version
Cone guard: the dribbler tries to tap a cone and you stay between the ball and the cone. Swap after 30 seconds. Your pair counts good guards.
Guard the Cone
Stay between a dribbler and the cone you are protecting.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth soccer coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Place a cone behind you.
Core: Jogs. Beat your own best run of guards.
- Ages
- 7 and up
- Time
- 8 min
- Players
- You and a partner or parent
- Space
- Yard or field
- Bring
- Soccer ball, 1 cone, partner or parent
- Level · skill
- Beginner · Defending
The steps
How it works
- Place a cone behind you.
- Your partner dribbles slowly and tries to touch the ball to the cone.
- Stay goal-side, sideways on, and shuffle with them.
- Play 6 rounds of 30 seconds and swap.
Coaching point
Stay between the ball and the cone.
Safety: Stay on your feet and play the ball, not the player. No slide tackles; any live challenge is only with a coach watching.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Levels: Less (dribbler walks), Core (jogs), More (fakes). Beat your own best run of guards.
Story
You are a dragon guarding the golden egg.
My best
Beat your own count
Beat your own best run of guards. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
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