Soccer

  1. Ball Games
  2. Recess Games

  • Large Group (10 and up)

  • Grades 1-2

  • Kickballs

  • 10 minutes or more

Development Goal

To develop eye-foot coordination, teamwork, verbal communication and strategic thinking.

Before You Start

  • There are 11 players on each team divided into various positions: a goalie, defenders, midfielders, and forwards.
  • First possession is awarded to the team who wins a coin flip or Rock Paper Scissors.

Set Up

A major league soccer field is a little larger than the size of a football field. It has a minimum width of 50 yards, maximum of 100 yards, minimum length of 100 yards, and maximum of 130 yards.

How to Play

  • The game begins with a kickoff in the center of the field. 
  • The two teams stand on opposite sides of the field and wait until the team awarded possession passes the ball forward. 
  • Once the ball has been touched forward, play begins. 
  • However, play cannot begin by dribbling the ball; the first touch of the game needs to be a pass.
  • When the ball goes out of play from a side boundary line, it is put back in play using a throw-in. 
  • This is an overhead throw using two hands with both feet remaining on the ground. 
  • The throw-in is awarded to the team who did not cause the ball to go out of bounds. 
  • A corner kick is awarded when the ball goes over the end boundary but not through the goal, and is last touched by a defensive player. 
  • The ball is placed at the nearest corner, and the offensive team gets a free kick.
  • A goal kick is awarded when the ball goes over the end boundary but not through the goal, and is last touched by an offensive player. 
  • The ball is placed in front of the goal area, and the defensive team gets a free kick.
  • Tripping, pushing and deliberate use of the hands are called fouls. 
  • A foul results in a free kick from the point of the foul. 
  • Illegal use of the hands includes anything from just below the shoulder and down; including elbows and arms.
  • A goal is scored when the ball passes through the marked goal area.
  • If the game is using cones as the goal, the shot must be below head level of the goalie. 
  • Play then stops, the ball is returned to the center of the field, and the non-scoring team restarts play with a kick off identical to the one that began the game.