Fun Soccer Games for Kindergarten Children

For kindergarten-aged soccer players, the only thing that matters is making the game fun. Generally, players that age don't have the physical or mental capacity to execute or understand complex skills or tactics, and over-emphasis on winning and losing shouldn't even be on the radar. Find ways to keep the kids working with the ball and having a good time.

  1. Dribbling

    • Dribbling games for these players include a variation of crab soccer and Sharks and Minnows. In this variation of crab soccer, most of the players start with a ball, and some start in crab position (walking on the hands and feet with the hands behind the body). Players try to dribble from one line to another through a sea of crabs from one line to the other without letting the crabs kick their ball away. If a player's ball is knocked away, they become a crab. Sharks and Minnows is another ocean-themed game where one player starts without a ball and goes around a defined area, trying to kick the ball away from the dribbling minnows. Minnows become sharks when they lose the ball.

    Passing

    • Passing can be as simple as having each child pair up with another and pass the ball back and forth a few yards apart. You can tell them what part of the foot they should be using and show them how to pass and receive with the inside of their feet, and you can explain to them how to try two-touch and one-touch passing. You can then move to having them pass and move, and then go on to playing small games of two-vs.-two or three-vs.-three keep-away.

    Shooting

    • Shooting and scoring is what the kids want to do, so get them in situations where you can get them taking lots of shots with their laces. For smaller groups, a line of players taking shots one by one either starting with a dribble or receiving a pass from a coach is acceptable. For bigger groups, set up some small fields with small goals and have the kids play to goal while encouraging lots of shots.