The Snake
Activity Description
The Game Have all players dribbling soccer balls except for 2-3 players to start.
These players hold hands and work together as one snake to tag the other
players. The players with balls try to avoid getting tagged by the snake. If they
are tagged, they join hands with players making up the snake. The snake grows
until all players are part of the snake. The snake must stay together as one
animal and not break off into little parts. Encourage fun by having the snake
hiss. Progress to: Snake must kick the dribbling players’ ball out of the area for
that player to join the snake.
Begin the game as a tag game without balls. This will get the kids familiar
with the space.
Knockout becomes Have a Ball!
Activity Description
Knockout: Players dribble their ball while trying to knock other player’s balls
outside of the grid. Players can never leave their own ball. If their ball gets
knocked out have them retrieve it quickly and get back into the game. Coach
can give a minor challenge 5 Juggles, 10 ball taps, sprint around the grid, etc.
before player can re-enter the grid.
Focus: Dribbling, Shielding Poke tackling
Have a Ball: Same set-up, but now one player in each grid begins without a
ball. The player without the ball now tries to win the ball off of any of the
dribblers. If he/she does so successfully, they now keep the ball and the person
who lost the ball tries to win any of the other balls back. You must win the ball,
you cannot kick it out. If the ball is kicked out the players who was dribbling
retrieves it and rejoins the game. Game should be played for 90 seconds. Who
doesn’t have a ball at the end? Assess a minor challenge for whoever is without
the ball.
Focus: Dribbling, Shielding, Winning the Ball, Transition
Coerver 1v1 with Sprint
Activity Description
The Game: The player in the middle passes a ball across to an opponent and
moves out to defend. A “live 1v1 ensues to either goal! Players cannot shoot
until they enter the shooting zone. Once a goal is scored or a ball goes out
bounds a sprint to the opposite shooting line occurs, the next player in line
passes the ball across and moves out to defend once the sprint has taken place.
Focus:
 Dribbling at speed
 Changing Direction
 Defending
 1st Touch/receiving
Keep score: 2 points for a goal, 1 point for the sprint.
4 Goal 2v2 Exercise
The Game: The players of the same team are placed by the corner cones of the
goal they are defending. Half of the team is in a line at one cone and the other
half at the other cone. The coach is standing outside the middle with all the balls.
The game starts when the coach serves the ball into the field, a 2v2 game ensues.
The game is over when one team scores or the ball goes out of bounds. Players
need to get out of the field quickly and get back in line.
Rule 1: The player who receives the ball from the coach MUST NOT play one
touch. This will prevent the player from just kicking the ball.
Rule 2 (optional): Ball must be carried into the shooting zone before a goal can
be scored.