How Many Training Cones Does a Soccer Coach Need?
Written by JC Giuca | 30+ years coaching | Masters in Sports Coaching (AQF Level 9)
How many training cones does a soccer coach need? The short answer
Ask ten coaches and you will get ten numbers. After 30 years running sessions from juniors through to NPL, here is the figure I land on for a standard full-squad session: roughly 40 to 50 flat disc markers, 15 to 20 dome cones, and 6 to 8 tall cones or poles. That kit lets you set two grids, a couple of channels and a finishing zone without ever running short or stopping a drill to recycle markers. If you coach a smaller group you can scale down, and if you share a pitch with another coach you will want more. The full breakdown sits below, and if you are building a kit from scratch it is worth reading alongside our guide to the best soccer coaching equipment.
The three types of cone and what each one does
Before you count anything, separate cones by job. Most coaches buy one big bag of flat markers and wonder why their grids look flat and their dribble drills are vague. The fix is understanding that three different cones do three different things.
- Flat disc markers: low, stackable, near-impossible to trip over. These define grids, passing gates, rondo squares, target zones and start lines. They are your highest-volume item because almost every drill needs them.
- Dome cones (half-cones): a raised dome a player can see from a distance and at speed. Use them for dribble gates, slalom lines, dynamic boundaries and anything where a flat marker would vanish under the player’s eyeline.
- Tall cones or poles: 30cm and up. These mark mini-goals, defender lines, mannequin substitutes and clear no-go zones. You carry the fewest of these, but a session without them forces you to improvise goals out of bags and bottles.
How many of each: a working kit list by squad size
The numbers below assume you want to set up a session without rationing markers, and ideally split your group into two working stations at once. Treat the full-squad row as the default coaching bag. If you mostly run small-group or home sessions, the lighter list in our soccer training equipment for home guide will serve you better.
Cone kit by squad size
| Setup | Flat disc markers | Dome cones | Tall cones / poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small group (up to 8 players) | 20 to 30 | 10 | 4 to 6 |
| Full squad (12 to 18 players) | 40 to 50 | 15 to 20 | 6 to 8 |
| Large squad or two coaches (20+ players) | 60+ | 25 to 30 | 8 to 10 |
Why most coaches under-buy (and the colour rule)
The most common mistake is not buying too few cones, it is buying them all in one colour. The moment you want two teams, two grids, or an overload drill, a single-colour bag forces you to stop and explain who stands where. Buy your flat disc markers in at least two contrasting colours, ideally four, and a session that used to take two minutes to set up takes twenty seconds. I would rather a coach owned 30 markers in four colours than 60 in one. The colour split does more for session flow than raw quantity ever will.
The second trap is replacing thinking with kit. You do not need a bag the size of a kit-room to run a sharp session. A good coaching board helps you plan the shapes before you ever set a cone down, and we cover the options in our guide to soccer coaching boards. Plan the session first, then lay the minimum cones that make the picture clear.
Getting the most from a small cone bag
If your budget or your boot is small, prioritise flat disc markers in two colours, then add dome cones, then tall cones last. A pair of tall cones plus a handful of domes will already let you run most of the core training drills you plan across a season. Keep them sorted by type in the bag so you are not digging mid-session, and count them back in at the end. A cone left on the pitch is a cone you will be short next week.
For the full coaching bag, including bibs, boards and balls, see our breakdown of the best soccer coaching equipment, or start wider with the coaching tools pillar guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many cones do you need for soccer training?
For a full squad session, around 40 to 50 flat disc markers, 15 to 20 dome cones, and 6 to 8 tall cones covers almost any drill. Scale down to roughly 20 to 30 markers for a small group, and up to 60 or more if you share a pitch or run two stations at once.
What is the difference between disc cones and dome cones?
Flat disc markers are low and stackable, used for grids, gates and target zones. Dome cones are raised so players can see them at speed, which makes them better for dribble gates, slalom lines and dynamic boundaries.
How many cones do you need for a dribbling drill?
A single dribble lane usually needs 6 to 10 dome cones spaced a stride or two apart. Carrying 15 to 20 dome cones lets you set two lanes side by side so players are not queuing.
Do you really need different coloured cones?
Yes. Two colours is the minimum and four is ideal. Colour lets you split teams, mark overloads and define separate grids in seconds rather than stopping to explain who stands where. It does more for session flow than buying extra cones in one colour.
What else does a soccer coach need besides cones?
At a minimum, a set of bibs in two colours, a ball each where possible, a pump, and a coaching board to plan shapes. Our guide to the best soccer coaching equipment covers the full kit a coach should carry.
