According to a 2001 survey by FIFA, the international soccer governing body, as many as 18 million Americans play soccer. The ever-growing participation in the sport spans ages, sexes and nationalities. Playing games as a way to teach soccer skills helps kids learn technique and game-play in a fast-paced and fun-centered environment.
Center Stomp
In soccer, keeping children under age 7 active and engaged is almost as important as skill-development itself. Designate boundaries with cones to start the game "Center Stomp." Pick three to five students to stand in the middle as the "stompers" and have the remaining students line up on one side, each with a foam ball at their feet. When you say "go," the students begin dribbling their balls across the field or gym as the stompers try to stomp the balls. If a stomper stomps a ball, he gets to claim that ball and the child whose ball was stomped takes over the stomper position. Continue the game for 10 to 15 minutes.
Dribble Around the Cone and Pass Relay
The website SoccerHelp.com provides a number of soccer drills and resources for players and coaches including the "Dribble Around the Cone and Pass Relay." Split the players up into teams of two and designate a starting cone and a passing cone for each team. The two cones should sit approximately eight to 15 adult-size paces from one another. All of the teams start by lining up behind their starting cone on the right, the first player with the soccer ball. The first player starts by dribbling the ball to the turning cone, rounding the cone, then passing the ball to the second player. The first player returns to the starting cone while the second player dribbles, turns and passes it back to the first player. The first team to successfully complete eight cycles wins that game. Play again, starting on the left side of the starting cone, so that the players practice turning to the right. This game teaches dribbling, turning and passing accuracy.
Dribble Across a Square
SoccerHelp.com highly recommends the "Dribble Across a Square" drill. Set up four cones in a square shape, approximately 10 child-paced steps between each cone. Instruct the players to spread out around the outside of the square, facing the center, each player with a ball. Instruct each player to dribble in a straight line across the square when you say "go." When players reach the opposite side, they simply turn around and return to the starting side, repeating until one player has traveled there and back 10 times. Because players may start on opposite sides of the square, this drill teaches children to look up while dribbling and to work on quick turns and accurate, tight dribbling technique.
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