Drill: Hopkins Up and Over Drill

🎯 Purpose of the Drill

This drill focuses on:

• Fast ball movement

• Off-ball positioning

• Executing a dodge and alley shot

It’s a great way to reinforce quick decisions, precise passing, and finishing on the run.

Drill Setup

• Set up three cones:

  1. Low wing area (start with the ball)

  2. Top corner (quick pass point)

  3. Opposite wing (final dodge location)

• The sequence:

  1. A player dodges off the cone at the low wing and rolls out wide

  2. He passes up to the corner

  3. That player quickly moves the ball over to the opposite wing

  4. The final player dodges off a cone and runs down the alley for a shot

Drill Progression

• Begin with all right-handed reps

• After 5 minutes, switch to left-handed by moving the starting line and cones to the opposite side

• Rotate goalies every 4–5 shots to keep them fresh and focused

Key Concepts

• Quick ball movement = fewer touches, faster transitions

• Dodging with purpose – sell the move before accelerating

• Alley shooting technique – shot placement while running

Variations

• Add a defender at the final cone for light pressure

• Set a shot clock to simulate game tempo

• Require a bounce pass or overhand pass in one of the steps to challenge control

Coaching Points

• Encourage fast and accurate “up-and-over” movement

• Make sure each dodge has change of direction and pace

• Teach players to read space and shoot on the run with confidence