Slalom Race

Objective

• -Wake up foot speed
• -Improve control through turns
• -Prepare players for faster practice

Setup

1. 1Set out 6 to 8 cones in straight and zig-zag lines.
2. 2Give each player a ball.
3. 3Players start at one end of each lane.
4. 4Leave safe gaps between lanes.

How to play

1. 1Players dribble through the cones at an easy pace to begin.
2. 2The coach then calls for a race and they go faster.
3. 3At the end, they turn and come back through a different lane if possible.
4. 4Encourage clean touches rather than just rushing.
5. 5Finish with a free sprint without the ball.

Progressions

• +Progressive Tempo: add a fourth maximal round
• +Ball For Every Player: shrink the working area
• +Reaction Start: two cues, one a decoy
• +Add a competitive scoreline for the last round

Regressions

• -Progressive Tempo: stay at the first two tempos only
• -Ball For Every Player: bigger area, share a ball between two
• -Reaction Start: coach counts players in
• -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

• -Progressive Tempo — Three rounds: 60% pace, 80% pace, then match pace with full recovery between.
• -Ball For Every Player — Every player works with their own ball so no one waits in a queue.
• -Reaction Start — Every repetition begins from a visual or audio cue rather than a set count.
• -Partner Race — Players work in matched pairs and race each repetition, best of five.
• -Mobility Focus — Each round finishes with a controlled mobility hold for the hips, groin and ankles.
• -Change Of Direction — Add a 90 or 180 degree turn into every repetition before the finish.
• -Team Target — The whole group works to a shared score target and repeats the round if they miss it.
• -Flip the practice to the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

• -Kicking the ball too far
• -Looking only at the ball
• -Turning too wide around cones