Practice Soccer Games

1. World Cup:

            The group is divided into teams of two. Two goalies (often the coaches) are in goal and the pairs are in front of the goal, waiting to begin. The coaches begin the game by throwing out one fewer balls than there are pairs. If one player scores, he steps off the grid with his partner and they both advance to the next round. The remaining pairs vie for the remaining spots. In the end there is one pair which hasn't scored and that pair is eliminated from the match. Those pairs who did score return to the playing field and since there is one less pair one less ball is distributed than before. The game continues in this way until there are only two pairs left in the finals of the world cup. The first team to score is the champion. (Require players who have been eliminated to juggle or dribble.)

            Variations: (a) Use just one ball. (b) Require a certain number of consecutive passes before a team is eligible to shoot.  

2. Buffalo Run

            In a grid (25X10)two kids (the "hunters") stand on each sideline with their balls. The rest of the kids (the "buffalo") start at one end without their balls and run to the other side while the hunters kick balls at them on the ground. If a buffalo is hit with a ball below the knee, he becomes a hunter. The last Buffalo to survive is the winner.

            Variation: the buffalo must dribble a ball through the grid.

3. Knockout:

            All kids dribble inside the grid (20X20) and try to kick  other kids' balls out of the grid. If a kid's ball is kicked out of the grid, he is out. The last remaining player is the winner. As the games goes on (and fewer and fewer players remain in the grid), the coach must make the grid smaller and smaller by using his own body to represent an encroaching boundary.

4. Sharks and Fishes:

            In this variation of knockout, one kid begins the game without his ball. This "shark" tries to knock out the fishes' balls. The coach measures the amount of time it takes the shark to eliminate all of the fish. Times are compared to determine the most deadly shark

5. Five-Goal Game

            On a half-field (or smaller grid), cone goals are set up at each side (four total) and one is set up in the center of the grid. There are two teams. Kids try to pass the ball from inside of the grid through any of the four goals to a teammate on the outside or from either side of the central goal to a teammate on the other side.

            Variations: Same layout, but allow players to carry the ball with their hands until touched; then they must pass it with their hands. Goals are scored as above (from the inside out except for the center goal) on thrown passes. The game can be restricted to headers, volleys, or any combination. In these variations, no one has to be on the other side of the goal to receive the ball.

6. The Cones Game

            In a grid (20X20) half the kids line up behind one end-line, each with a ball, and half line up behind the other end-line with their balls. On each end-line are cones equaling the number of kids on a side. From behind their line of cones, kids pass the ball on the ground and knock over the cones opposite them on the other side. The first team to knock over all the cones on the opposite side is the winner.

7. Target Ball:

            In  a grid (10x20) a ball is placed in the center, and half of the kids line up with their balls on one end facing the other half who line up on the other end with their balls. With their balls, the kids try to knock the target ball across the other team's line.

8. Gauntlet:

            The grid is marked with three different zones. In each zone is a defender. Players line up at one end of the grid and dribble through, confronting each defender in turn. If the player dribbles past all three defenders, he has "run the gauntlet" and returns to the end of the line. If a player is stopped by a defender, he becomes the third defender. The third defender becomes the second, the second becomes the first, and the first defender goes to the back of the offensive line. Give points for each zone successfully traversed. First dribbler to 10 points wins.

9. Crabs:

            All but three or four kids line up at one end of the grid, each with a ball.  The remaining three or four players (plus, for added excitement, any willing coaches) spread out in the grid and wait in "crab position" (walking on hands and feet with their stomachs pointing upwards).  The players attempt to dribble across the grid while the crabs try to kick their balls our of the grid.  Those players whose balls are kicked out of bounds immediately become crabs and the players go back and forth until there is only one crab survivor - the winner of the game.

10. The Crossing Game:

            Divide the players into pairs. One member of each pair stands along the touchline near either corner and crosses the ball to his partner who is standing somewhere inside the 18-yard box.  The partner tries to head or volley the ball into the goal. First team to score five times wins.

            Variation: Add a goalie

11. Zonewars

            The half-field is marked with three different zones: the defensive, mid-field and offensive zones.  The game is played with two teams (each with one goalie), two players in the defensive zone, three in the mid-field, and two in the offensive zone.  Kids may not dribble out of their zone (they may only pass the ball).   

12. Soccer Croque

            Divide the players into pairs. Each has a ball. Players take turns trying to hit the other player's ball with their own ball. One point is scored for each hit. First player to ten wins.

13. Chain Tag

            In a grid (20x20) one player is "it." He tries to tag another player. When he succeeds, he and that player join hands and try to tag another player. The chain grows until everyone is in it. A player may be tagged only when everyone in the chain is holding hands.

14. Machinegun Passing:

            Divide the players into pairs. Each player is separated by about six to ten feet from his partner. The players pass the ball back and forth as rapidly as possible using one touch only. The pair with the most passes in one minute wins.

            Variation: Same game with throw-ins or volleys.

15. The Header Game (recommended for more advanced players):

            In a grid (20x10), two kids stand at one end with one ball between then and two kids stand on the opposite end.  The first pair heads the ball back and forth up the grid and heads it past the two goalies at the other end to score a goal.  If the ball is dropped, the two kids who were goalies take the ball at the spot where it fell and try to score on the opposite side on the kids who dropped the ball.  Goalies may use their hands only when on their line.  The game may also be played using any body part or with groups of three.

Prepared by Matthew Laufer, Yale University, Class of 1995 (N.N.H.S., Class of 1991) with assistance from Stephen Fauteux and Graham Shipley 1993