STRIKING WITH THE FEET ACTIVITIES
CIRCLE KEEP AWAY
Players: Students work in groups of 6-8 Equipment: 1 Soccer ball per group Area: Blacktop or Grass Area Objective: All players in each group pair up and number off from Teams 1 to 4. Team 1 starts in the middle of the playing area while the rest of the teams stand around the area. On “Go” the outside teams attempt to pass the soccer ball through the circle and not to a neighbor without allowing Team 1 to take possession. After the 30 second time period is over then Team 2 moves into the middle. This pattern continues until all teams have had three opportunities to be in the middle.
SEND IT AWAY
Players: Entire class divided into pairs Equipment: 15-20 balls Area: Basketball court Objective: Each team numbers off from 1 to 4. All Player # 1’s enter the playing area and attempt to dribble their ball around for 30 seconds. If they are successful in maintaining control for the designated time period they earn a point for their team. Another strategy is to kick another team’s ball out of the playing area while maintaining control of their own ball so the opponent will not earn a point. Waiting players may not assist when their team’s ball is sent away. After 30 seconds players still in control earn a team point. Players take a chance of not protecting their ball when sending away another team’s ball away. After each 30 second round the next numbered player enters the game.
STRIKING WITH THE FEET ACTIVITIES
# 2 # 7
# 1 1 5 8 # 3
2 4 6 # 5 # 6
3 7
# 4 # 8
HACKY SACK Players: Students work in groups of 4-6 Equipment: 1 Hacky Sack per group Area: Blacktop or Grass Area Objective: Have each group watch the attached video and then attempt to master the skill of Hacky Sack. Allow the students to use any simplified methods to help increase success. An example is to have younger students start with a balloon to kick around. Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guQyAWwIYnw
SOCCER VOLLEY TENNIS Players: Students work in groups of 4-6 Equipment: 1 mini soccer ball per group Area: Volleyball courts Objective: Place two groups on a court and they attempt to kick the ball back and forth over the net. The ball may bounce between each kick to make it easier for the student to kick it with
STRIKING WITH THE FEET ACTIVITIES control. A group scores a point if the ball bounces twice or the opposing team fails to kick the ball into their half of the court.
FOOT GOLF Players: Students work in groups of 4 Equipment: 9 hula hoops, 9 cones, 15-20 soccer balls Area: Grass Area Objective: Each foursome pairs up and plays a round of golf using a soccer kick instead of a golf club. Player 1 kicks the ball towards the hole and then Player 2 takes a turn. They continue alternating kicks until the ball ends up in the hole (hula hoop). Each pair counts their kicks and keeps a running total.
Hole 5 Hole 4 Tee 4 Hole 3
Tee 5 Tee 3
Hole 2
Tee 2
Tee 1 Hole 1
MINI SOCCER Players: Students work in groups of 3 Equipment: 4 cones and 1 soccer ball per game Area: Grass Area 20X20 yards
STRIKING WITH THE FEET ACTIVITIES
Objective: Two groups play against each other in a mini soccer game. There are no goalies allowed in any game. Any ball going out of the playing field belongs to the defending team. Sidelines = Throw-ins and Goal line = goal kick. Teams may rotate fields to play other teams. Suggested time period is 8-12 minutes.
1 1 3 3 5 5 7 7
1 1 3 3 5 5 7 7
2 2 4 4 6 6 8 8
2 2 4 4 6 6 8 8
KICK BACK Players: Students work in groups of 4 Equipment: 1 soccer ball per group Area: Handball courts Objective: Each group numbers off from 1 to 4. Player 1 starts by kicking the ball at the handball wall. Player 2 must trap the ball and kick it back to the wall. Player 3 then takes a turn and then Player 4. This pattern continues until a player misses the ball or does not hit the wall. When a player misses the kick or wall they earn a point. The goal of this activity is to have the lowest score like golf. Play each game for 5 minutes and then have the players switch to a new group.
KICKING CHALLENGES
Players: Students work in groups of 6 Equipment: 3 footballs per group Area: Grass Area Objective: Two groups start at a designated station. Group 1 performs the kicking task while Group 2 catches or retrieves the balls and throws them back to Group 1. When everyone from Group 1 has completed the tasks then the groups switch places. Sample Kicking Tasks: o Station 1 = Kicking a football off a tee o Station 2 = Kicking a soccer ball for distance
STRIKING WITH THE FEET ACTIVITIES
o Station 3 = Punting a football for distance o Station 4 = Punting a soccer ball for distance o Station 5 = Kick a football over a soccer goal (field goal) o Station 6 = Kick a soccer ball so it bends around a flag o Station 7 = Kick the football so someone from the other group can catch it
DRIBBLING COURSES Players: Students work in groups of 4 Equipment: 15-20 cones, 10-15 soccer balls Area: Grass Area Objective: Each member of the group dribbles the ball through an obstacle course of cones/markers attempting to keep control of their ball. After all members have completed the course they rotate to a new course. Stress control of the ball. This is not a race and speed is not the main focus. Suggested set-up is to have different courses and the students repeat each course twice.
Course 1 X
Course 2 X X
Course 3 X X X X
Course 4 X X X X X X X
GOAL ON
Players: Students work in pairs Equipment: 20-24 cones and 15-20 balls Area: Grass Area Objective: Students work together passing the ball back and forth as they move through the playing area. They dribble and then pass the ball through a goal and then move on to the next goal. Each pair has 5-7 minutes to make a successful pass through every goal in the area. If a team is successful in scoring a goal through every goal within the time limit of 5-7 minutes then they earn a championship point and each student chooses a new partner.
STRIKING WITH THE FEET ACTIVITIES
CRAB SOCCER
Players: Entire class divided into 4 groups Equipment: 1 Cageball and 4 cones Area: Grass Area 10X10 yards Objective: Place one team on each sideline of the playing area. Have all four teams number off from 1 to 8 and have their players sit on their sideline. All Player 1’s enter the playing field and take a crab position. On “Go” they players attempt to kick the ball over the heads of any team except for their own. Players on the sideline are allowed to kick the ball back into the playing area to stop a goal from being scored. Play each round for 30-45 seconds or until a goal is scored. After each round the next numbered player enters and takes their turn.
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 4 2 4 2 4 2 4 2 4 2 4 2 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
STRIKING WITH THE FEET ACTIVITIES
KEEP IT OUT Players: Entire class divided into 2 groups Equipment: As many balls as possible Area: Grass Area 20X20 yards Objective: Divide the classroom in half. Teams remain on their respective sides of the field. On “Go” each team kicks (instep) their balls to the other side of the field. The object is to have as few balls on your side of the field as possible. Students should continue to kick until the teacher calls “stop”. Once “stop” is called, the balls are counted, and the team with the fewest balls scores a point. Remind students to use proper kicking skills (instep) and to stop kicking as soon as the teachers calls “Stop”. After a team scores 5 points start a new game.
Team # 1 Team # 2
HUMAN FOOSBALL
Players: Entire class divided into 2 groups Equipment: 2 Soccer balls and 4 cones Area: Basketball Courts Objective: Place members of each team on their appropriate lines (see diagram). Players may only move side to side along their line attempting to kick the ball towards their goal. Once a team kicks the ball through their goal a point is scored and the ball is returned to the opposing team to start with.
Black Goal Green Goal
STRIKING WITH THE FEET ACTIVITIES
MAKE SOME NOISE
Players: Students work in groups of 6-8 Equipment: 1 Soccer ball and 2 trash cans per game Area: Basketball Courts Objective: Place two groups on a basketball court. Each team has a trash can placed on their free throw line. The goal of this game is for each team to play a game of mini soccer with the idea of hitting the trash can to score a goal. Each team may place 1 player inside the free throw circle to act as a goalie. After a goal is scored the ball stays in play and either team can play it. If a group kicks the ball of bounds then the opposing team takes possession by placing the ball on the sideline and kicking it in.
Green Goal Black Goal
KICK OVER
Players: Entire class divided into 2 groups Equipment: As many Nerf balls as possible Area: Grass Area 20X20 yards Objective: Divide the classroom in half. Teams remain on their respective sides of the field. On “Go” each team attempts to kick their balls over or through the other side of the field across the goal line. The object is to score as many goals as possible within a designated time period. Each team places two Counters behind their scoring line at the other end of the field. Counters act as Scorekeepers and keep the ball in play by giving it to the opposing team after a goal. Players use soccer skills to trap or stop the ball before kicking. Students should continue to kick until the teacher calls “time”. After the designated time period is up teams switch sides and start a new game. Scores can be accumulated for numerous games.
STRIKING WITH THE FEET ACTIVITIES
Team # 1 Team # 2
Counters Counters