Soccer is an ideal sport for young children to learn. The objectives of the game are simple, and it teaches teamwork. Soccer is physical, which makes it fun for kids, but not dangerous, which helps put parents' minds at ease. As with any level of soccer team, a team comprised of 6- to 8-year-olds should perform a number of drills during a practice or before a match to help develop player skills and encourage teamwork.
Free-For-All
During a free-for-all drill, every player has a ball and is positioned randomly on the field. When the coach blows the whistle, every player begins to dribble his ball. The players must keep his head up to avoid others who are also dribbling near him. The coach blows the whistle again, which signals everyone to stop dribbling and bring their ball under control. The coach selects a player to kick the ball to try to hit her with the ball. She then blows again to resume the dribbling. The drill is over once every player has had the chance to hit the coach with the ball.
Circle Game
Players form a circle with a diameter of about 10 yards. Limit the number of players around the circle to six. Form multiple circles to include all the the players. Every player must team up with another player and share a ball. If one circle has an odd number of players, the coach joins in.
The players stand on opposite sides of each other around the circle. Set up about eight to 10 cones in the middle of the circle. The objective of the drill is for each pair of players to pass the ball back and forth, trying to knock over the cones in the process.
Freeze Tag
Every player on the field has a ball except one. The players with a ball randomly dribble around the field. The objective is for the player without a ball to get one from another player. He does so by tagging a player with his hand, not by stealing the ball from him. When a player with a ball is tagged, the other player gets his ball. The player who had his ball stolen must freeze in place and spread his legs. He becomes unfrozen when another player kicks his ball through his legs. The unfrozen player can then run around and tag another player with a ball.
Red Light, Green Light
All players must line up on one sideline of the field and have a ball. The coach stands at the opposite sideline and has her back turned to the players. When the coach blows the whistle, the players begin to dribble toward the coach's sideline. At random times, the coach turns her head and yells, "Red light," at which point all the players must freeze with their ball under control. If a player is still moving or his ball is still rolling when the coach turns around, the player must return to the starting sideline. The coach turns her back again and yells, "Green light," and the players continue to dribble toward the coach's sideline. The drill is over once every player has reached that sideline.
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