Footwork · U10 drill · ages 8–10
Ball Drop Reaction Sprint
Coach drops the ball. Catch it before the second bounce. Most kids cannot.
AgesU10+
Players2–16
Time5 min
Spacehalf court
Equipment1 ball
Levelbeginner

Setup
A player waits in a ready stance on the baseline; the coach stands about 25 feet away holding a ball.
How it runs
- The coach tosses the ball out to the side without warning.
- The player explodes out and must catch it before it bounces a second time.
- Reset and repeat five times, then rotate players.
- Move the coach further away as players get faster.
Coaching point
The first step should be a hard push, not a shuffle or a false step backwards.
In the U10 Drill Book, page 42
The full drill
- 2 more coaching points
- 2 common mistakes and how to fix them
- 3 progressions to make it harder
- a way to make it competitive
Plus 119 more drills for ages 8–10, one per page, with court diagrams.
More drills
Baseline Starts, Stops and Turns4–24 players · 6 min · half court
Back Cut Technique2–12 players · 7 min · half court
Short Step Long Step Off the Catch2–10 players · 6 min · half court
Rock-Paper-Scissors Chase4–20 players · 5 min · half courtAll free U10 drills · All footwork drills · Drill videos on YouTube