Soccer doesn’t always have to be a competitive sport. When it comes to entertaining the kiddies with soccer, there are a plethora of games to play that will help develop skills while also allowing the kids to let loose and have fun.
Our five favorite soccer games for kids include:
1. Ouch
This is a fun game for kids to get some revenge on the grown-ups! Start by giving each kid a ball and marking off a 20x30 yard grid. You can make the grid bigger or smaller depending on how many kids there are and the ages and skill levels.
The coach or adult then goes into the middle of the grid and starts to run around. The kids must dribble their soccer balls around the grid and try to hit the coach with the ball. When a ball hits the coach, the coach should yell “Ouch!” for extra fun. While this game is good fun for the kids, it also teaches dribbling and helps kids keep their heads up as they look for the coach in the grid.
2. Sharks and Minnows
Another fun game that instills fundamentals in the young soccer player, sharks and minnows require a grid of about 20x25 yards. Each player gets a soccer ball except two “sharks”. The sharks must try and kick the minnow’s balls’ out of the grid as the minnows dribble the balls away from the sharks. If a minnow’s ball is kicked out, the minnow must run one lap of the grid before being allowed back in. Each minnow gets two chances before being out for good. The last two minnows that haven’t been eliminated take the place of the sharks for the next round.
3. Simon Says
This is a great way to have fun while practicing listening skills and learning body awareness. Each player gets a ball to dribble and must listen for instructions from “Simon”. In this case, the coach will be Simon. Examples of things you can say can range. Popular choices include:
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Change direction
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Stop the ball
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Put your foot on the ball
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And more!
It’s also fun to add some random tricks and commands such as skipping, jumping, clapping or kicking the ball as far as they can. This will greatly improve listening skills and promote body awareness in kids.
4. Red Light, Green Light
This is a soccer spin on a classic schoolyard game. In this version, have the kids line up at a start line and have the coach or adult stand 15-20 yards away with their backs facing the kids. The coach will then yell, “green light!” and the kids will begin to dribble towards the coach. Once the coach yells, “red light” the kids must stop in their tracks. The coach will wait a moment; turn around and anyone still moving must go back to the beginning. This game is fun and will teach control and the importance of keeping the ball close.
5. Clean Your Room
This game is a variation of Sharks and Minnows. In this version, a 15x15 yard grid is laid out, and each player inside is given a ball. One player is without a ball and is determined to be the “room cleaner”. It’s the room cleaner’s job to get all the balls out of the grid at the same time. When they kick the ball out of the grid, the regular players can go and retrieve their ball until all the balls have been kicked out at the same time.
As we said before, soccer doesn’t always have to be competitive. These games are ideal for younger kids who are still learning the fundamentals of soccer. They are also great to use as a break during your regular practice, or if you just want to goof off and have some fun with the team.
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