Soccer games and drills to practice with your kids

Soccer is the world’s most popular and most played sport – by far. It’s an international obsession that brings people together and gets people moving like nothing else.

While it’s great to watch, it’s also great fun to play. But what do you do if you aren’t able to fit a full-sized field in your living room? SURELY it means you can’t play, right...?

Never fear. If you’ve got a soccer-obsessed kid in your life that you’re looking to keep busy, then this is the article for you.

We’ve rounded up some of the best soccer-centric activities to help you keep the kids entertained around the home and garden. Some need nothing more than a little bit of space, while for others you will need a ball and a place to kick it (so probably not your living room, unless you’re feeling very brave!).

Every one is a good as a last-minute goal!

Keepy ups

The all-time classic is a classic for a reason. Keepy ups are so simple... in theory!

Players have to keep the ball off the ground for as many touches as possible (without using their hands, of course). Encourage kids to use both feet, their knees and even their heads, if they can. Count each touch and stop when the ball drops. Then, they have to try and break their record. Easy! You can make it a group activity too, by adding in other players and passing the ball between them.

Then, if you want to make things more challenging, you can stipulate the amount of touches that each player must take. All you need for this is a ball and a little bit of space. So simple, and yet if you watch the best players in the world warming up before a game, there’s a good chance you’ll see them doing it, too!

The world record for keepy uppies is 28 hours. This writer’s personal record is about 1.5 seconds. We reckon your kid has a good chance of surpassing at least one of those records.

Beat the goalie

Here’s a game parents can enjoy without having to run around (the dream). The premise is simple. You stand, sit or kneel about six feet (two meters) in front of your kid with the ball in your hands. Your aim is to throw catchable balls to them, but trying to get it past them, and their aim is to stop you. Now, you’ve got to play fair here. No throwing it high into the air or as hard as you can, but do try and give them a challenge. Throw in a dummy or two, go high for one throw so they have to jump high and another so they have to get down low. It’s great for agility and developing hand-eye coordination – and it’s great fun!

Obstacle course

This one needs a bit of space and a few objects to make it interesting. You can use cones if you’ve got them, but anything will do. Plant pots, chairs, garden gnomes...

You’ll want to create a start and a finish line, then as much of an obstacle course as you can. The aim is for kids to dribble the ball from start to finish, without it hitting anything else. If the ball hits something, then they’ve been tackled and have to start again. Focus on their close control here; lots of small touches of the ball and quick feet. They’ll have to concentrate hard and be aware of their surroundings, which builds spatial awareness. Time them, and then encourage them to break their best time or make the course harder with more objects!

Toe taps

This one is good for a rainy day, as you don’t need to be outside and it happens mostly on the spot. Place the ball directly in front of your kid and tell them to put one foot on top of the ball, while the other stays on the ground. Then, in one motion, switch the feet over. Then switch again and again. Toe taps develop foot speed, as well as balance and coordination, and don’t be fooled by the lack of running: done properly, these will really get them out of breath. As they get better, they can try to increase their speed. If you want to gamify it, you can count how many they can do in a minute, then try to beat it!

And don’t forget the LEGO® soccer-themed sets

If you’re looking for a less energetic activity, then be sure to check out our range of LEGO soccer sets. There are new sets based on the FIFA World Cup™ trophy or a ball filled with surprises. You could also invent your own soccer-themed activities, like building your own trophy or stadium. The only limit is your imagination.

The most fun way to develop skills

These soccer drills are an easy way to build a love of activity and to develop at the same time. Each one helps improve balance, strength, agility and speed, and they’re simple enough to require minimum equipment or space. So, if you’re looking for activities for a kid that loves soccer, save this list. Game on!

FIFA®