Game version
Signal chase: a partner or parent calls “go” or touches a colored cone and you chase a ball rolled gently ahead and stop it. Swap roles each turn.
React and Chase
Race a partner off a surprise signal to train reaction speed and acceleration together.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth soccer coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Stand side by side between two gates of cones 15 yards away.
Core: A sound. Beat your own run of smooth starts.
- Ages
- 14 and up
- Time
- 12 min
- Players
- You and a partner
- Space
- Yard or field
- Bring
- Partner, 4 cones
- Level · skill
- Advanced · Pace & Agility
The steps
How it works
- Stand side by side between two gates of cones 15 yards away.
- Your partner breaks left or right without warning.
- React and race to beat them through the same gate.
- Swap roles each rep; do 10 reps with full rest.
Coaching point
Watch the hips, then explode.
Safety: Leave space between runners so you do not collide.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Pick a level: Less (a signal you can see), Core (a sound), More (a sound and a direction). Beat your own run of smooth starts.
Story
You are a firefighter: the bell rings and you spring into action.
My best
Beat your own count
Beat your own run of smooth starts. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
Print it now, or save it free
Free for families and teams
Save this drill to your child or team, free
Sign up and the free soccer week for this age opens in your child's planner, kept to healthy limits. A coach can send this drill to the whole team as homework, and parents see every session logged.
14 days free for a family, no card · Running a team is always free
Does your child's coach know about this?
An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.