Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): David Kitson Drill with Agility Poles

Animation 1

Setup:

• Two teams line up behind the goal

• Set up a set of 4–5 agility poles in front of each line (zigzag pattern, ~1 yard apart)

• Place a single cone at the top of the 18-yard box (central), with a ball behind it

• Cones still placed wide at the corners of the 18 as in the original version

Instructions:

• On the coach’s signal, the first player from each line works quickly through the agility poles (high knees, side steps, or in-and-out pattern).

• They then sprint around their assigned cone (top corners of the 18-yard box).

• The first player to the ball becomes the attacker, the second becomes the defender.

• The attacker must go to goal — one chance to score, defender tries to recover and stop the shot.

Coaching Points:

• Agility phase: Stay light, quick feet, focus on explosive exit

• Transition to sprint: Sharp change of direction and awareness of the ball

• Attacker: Quick decision-making, positive first touch, angle to goal, finish under pressure

• Defender: Sprint recovery, close the gap, don’t overcommit

Progressions:

• Add a coach-driven pass to the attacker instead of having a static ball

• Make it 2v1 if two players win the race (first two are attackers, next is defender)

• Use two balls (add rebound or second-chance element)