Coaching Education content provided by the NSCAA

Fun Games for Under-8s (Pt. 3)

by Lee Mitchell
NSCAA Region III Technical Director

Give and Go

This one is good for getting the kids to move after they make a pass. It is appropriate for kids a little older who pass the ball but like to stop and really admire their better passes.

Everyone spaces themselves around the center circle. Give the ball to one person and they call out someone's name and pass to them. They then run to the receiver's position in the circle.

Upon hearing their name, the receiver steps forward to receive the pass and yells, "I got it!" The sequence is then repeated. Several things are accomplished besides getting them used to movement. The "I got it!" yell addresses the problem of no one playing the ball in a game because they thought the other player was going to play it. We all learn each other's names quickly.

Invariably, someone is always left out, so start a countdown from 10 to zero and the players have to figure out who has been left out (the left out person should be quiet). The other players start yelling among themselves to figure out who's being left out and this fosters communication on the field. (It's pretty humorous, too.)

After a few practices, the players get the game down so they look pretty sharp. Then, toss in another ball. They love it. Now they have to think a bit because people are moving and two are busy with another ball.

Marbles

Split your team into two groups and line them up behind two opposing lines. Each player should have a ball. Place an unusual color (or size) ball in the middle. This is the marble (a No. 2 ball works well). Have them try to move the marble across the other team's line by striking it with a ball. After the game starts, don't require them to use their own ball-they are free to use any other ball they can find.

At first the players may get really excited and kick the marble. If this happens, call time out and replace it.

Variation: Eliminate the teams and play in a circle. The game ends when the ball leaves the circle.

Teach The Parents

During the last practice of the season, have a scrimmage between the parents and the players (with the coaches helping the players). This serves a couple of purposes. The players love this game. They get the opportunity to show their parents what they can do and they enjoy beating them (the parents never win; the coaches make sure of that...). Also, since many of the parents have never played soccer, it shows them how difficult the game really is. The hope is that a parent will now think twice before yelling at a child for missing an "easy" shot in a game. Everyone seems to enjoy this scrimmage.