Soccer Smash

  1. Ball Games
  2. Readiness Games

  • Large Group (10 and up)

  • Grades 1-2

  • Cones

  • 10 minutes or more

Development Goal

To practice teamwork, kicking, trapping and dribbling soccer skills.

Before You Start

  • Explain and/or demonstrate that players must stand at least two feet away from the cones and center dividing line.
  • Explain that the ball must stay below head level and that hands are not allowed to touch the ball.
  • Create two groups of players using their favorite soccer teams (such as Real Madrid and Barcelona) or another team name.
  • Each team receives a soccer ball. Choose a volunteer from each team.
  • Create a start signal, such as a magic word, whistle blow or first kick.

Set Up

Use a large play space, such as a basketball court or small soccer field. Divide the play area in half, into two courts. Place five cones equally scattered around each side of the court.

How to Play

  • The goal of the game is to knockdown all the cones in the opposite court during an allotted amount of time using soccer skills.
  • If a team knocks down all the cones, play resets.
  • The ball can be hit with feet, chest, or head, but not hands or other illegal soccer moves.
  • If a player touches the ball with their hand, pause the game and let one player from the other team take a free shot at one of their cones (a penalty kick). Alternatively, you can assign that player as the ball retriever when balls leave the play area.
  • Players must stay at least two feet behind the center dividing line on their side of the court.

Variations

  • Add more cones. Playing with twenty plus cones on each side will make the game more exciting, especially for younger students.
  • Add more soccer balls. It turns the game into a soccer style castle ball.
  • With a smaller or younger group you can have just one team. They can kick and try and accurately hit the cones on the other side.
  • Add hula hoops or different colored cones as markers where players can stand to kick the ball.