CLINIC FOR ADULTS: “Want your 6-Year-Old to Sleep Well Tonight?” Fun games for players in Pre-K
through 1st Grade
Generally, kids this age don’t need warm-up stretches. If you want to do a few stretches, make them
dynamic (moving through a range of motion rather than holding, static stretches). You can intersperse
stretching with juggling and/or dribbling moves.
GREETINGS. Players run around randomly in a rectangle.
Coach calls out various types of greetings, which the
players have to do with each other: shake hands, high fives
with one hand, high fives with two hands, shoulder to
shoulder, back to back, etc. Next, have the players
dribbling the balls while they perform the same greetings.
PINNEY TAG. The Yellow Players are "it" and do NOT have
soccer balls. The other Red players dribble around the
area. If a Yellow player tags a Red player on the shoulder,
Yellow player drops the "pinney" (scrimmage vest), takes
the ball of the Red player, and the player who was tagged
picks up the Yellow pinney and becomes "it".
For younger players, start without the balls, so it’s purely a
tag game. This builds awareness of surroundings and
works on defensive maneuvers without “teaching” these
things.
WHICH BODY PART? Each player dribbles his ball in a small (15 x 20 yard) area. Adjust the size as
needed to ensure that the players can change directions with the balls and run into space.
The coach will call out a specific part of the body. As he does, the player will stop their ball with that
part of the body. Use heel, sole, laces, toe, outside of the foot, thighs, rear, stomach, elbows, shoulders,
forehead, etc.
Kate Samsot January 27, 2013
WHICH BODY PART
FOLLOW THE LEADER
Organize players in pairs with one ball. The player with
the ball dribbles while following the player without the
ball. The player dribbling tries to stay close to his
partner. The player without the ball leads by walking
fast. If this is too easy, the leader may start jogging
slowly. Players switch roles.
Coaching Points: Keep close control of the ball; eyes up
seeing ball and man; use outside, inside, sole, and heel
of both feet to change directions; keep the gap close
between the leader and the dribbler; avoid running into
each other.
ROCK-PAPER-SCISSORS, SHOOT. Two players with one ball, both are tapping the same ball with their
toes. As they tap, both count out loud, “Rock-Paper-Scissors-Shoot” and see which of the pair wins.
(Rock beats scissors, scissors beats paper and paper beats rock. If they come up with the same sign –
they try again until there is a winner.)
Once there is a winner, that player has three seconds to
try and hit his partner with the ball (below the knee). He
gets a point only if he hits his partner. Play to 5 points.
You can also do this with two soccer balls. The player who
wins chases the other one, who tries to dribble away
without being hit by his partner’s ball.
Kate Samsot January 27, 2013
RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT. Every player has a ball on
the sideline. The coach is about 20-25 yards away.
With the coach’s back to the players, he yells GREEN
LIGHT and the players dribble towards the coach. When
the coach yells RED LIGHT, he turns to face the players.
Anyone who is not stopped has to go back to the
farthest person from the coach. First player to tag the
coach is the winner.
Make sure the players keep the ball close so they can
stop quickly.
EVERYBODY’S IT. All the players are told to run around inside a grid of about 20 x 25 yards. Each player
runs around and tries to tag as many teammates as they can and try to avoid getting tagged by the
others. Also, can play with coach yelling out player description for who’s it. For example, “Everyone
with adidas shoes,” or “everyone with a blue shirt.” Play for about 30 seconds, break, repeat. This
teaches players to keep their heads up so they are aware of opponents.
MATH DRIBBLE. All players with a ball dribbling
anywhere in the grid; coach calls out a math
problem (1+1), players solve it and form the
appropriate sized group (2).
ROVING GOALS. Two equal teams. Select two players to become the "roving goal". These players take
the ends of a rope or beach towel and stretch it out as they move around the space. The other players
play a game trying to score in the roving goal by passing it through.
Kate Samsot January 27, 2013
Players should look at the ball during passing
motion. Hips should face the goal. Variations
can include adding two balls or adding a second
goal.
Can also use this as a dribbling activity or a
passing in pairs activity. You will need at least 2
sets of roving goals (a great way to get team
parents involved in practice). Every player has a
ball and tries to dribble as many times through
the goals as possible. Or pairs try to pass to each
other through the goals.
BIG BOX, SMALL BOX DRIBBLING. Players
in a tight space learn to keep the ball
closer to their feet than when they play in
a big space. Here, coach yells "Switch"
and the groups of players change places
to experience the difference in dribbling
with and without space.
Instead of using boxes, we did this with
the small center circle and the space
around it in the gym.
SHARKS AND MINNOWS. One ball per player, except for 2
who are “it”.
Designate two players as “sharks” in the center of the grid,
and the rest of the players are “minnows,” lined up side-byside on one endline. When the coach says, “Swim!” the
minnows try to dribble their balls to the other side of the
grid without getting their balls kicked out of ocean by the
sharks. If a minnow's ball gets kicked out by a shark, he
joins the sharks for the next round. Play continues until all
the minnows have been turned into sharks. Last minnow
becomes the first shark for the next game. Coach can set
this up so the sharks can use the balls to hit the minnows
below the knees.
Kate Samsot January 27, 2013
KNOCKOUT. Players dribble their own balls and try
to maintain possession while kicking other players'
balls out of the grid. If players' balls are knocked
out, then can jugggle twice to get back into the
grid. Here, Player A has dribbled and kicked out
Player B's ball. Player C has kicked out Player D's
ball. Player D has gone out of the grid to complete
2 juggles, he can return to play.
SEQUENCE PASSING. Here 2 teams each have their
own soccer balls. Their players are numbered 1-6,
with 1 passing to 2, 2 passing to 3, and so on (6
passing back to 1). After each player passes the ball,
he may either go try to disrupt the other team's
sequence by kicking the ball away, or he can touch a
cone after his pass. A few ideas are at work here: 1)
Players must be responsible to teammates by being
available for the pass when it's their turn. 2) Players
must be aware when the opponent is nearby, trying
to kick the ball away. 3) Movement off the ball into
space is key.
“NUMBERS” COMPETITION, aka “STEAL THE BACON.” Team divided evenly. One group at each endline
or sideline of a field. Players each get numbers to match up & compete with players from the other
team. Coach has all the balls at midfield, calls numbers out. For example, if he calls “2” both number 2s
come running from the opposite endlines and try to score in opponent’s goal. Coach can increase the
numbers and have players go 2 v 2, 3 v 3, etc. Coaching points should be limited and made to
individuals (not stopping the whole team from playing). You’re looking for the players to dribble at top
speed and to take the shots when they have chances.
Kate Samsot January 27, 2013
Steal the Bacon: Coach calls out a number and the corresponding number (#7 Red vs #7 Yellow) run out
to the ball, which is passed to the middle of the field by the coach. The players battle 1 v 1 to see who
can score first in the opponents' small goal (about 1-2 yards wide - no goalkeeper).
From here, coach can call ALL the numbers at the
same time and go into a full scrimmage, adding
goalkeepers and widening the goals.
Kate Samsot January 27, 2013