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8 Best Kindergarten Soccer Drills: Grow Their Love for the Game | Your Soccer Home

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Skip to contentRunning through soccer drills with kindergarten-age kids can be so much fun. But only if you choose drills they find fun!I have a daughter who is currently in kindergarten, and she loves learning through simple play-based activities, such as the soccer drills I’m going to describe to you here.These drills can easily be defined as “beginner and basic soccer games for kids.” But teaching them new skills through games is exactly what they need at this stage.Not only will these drills build their soccer skills, but they will also assist in developing the fundamentals that young minds require to succeed in all aspects of life.Skills such as listening to instructions and acquiring soccer skills are great starting points for the sport.The Best Kindergarten Soccer Drills:Red Light Green LightVolcanoesHit The CoachPinnie Snag TagSharks And MinnowsSimon SaysClean Your BackyardMusical BallsSoccer drills for kindergarten kids must be fun and straightforward to keep them engaged. These young children must be actively involved before their concentration levels diminish.The above list provides superb exercises tailored to kindergarteners.As you read on, you will find a description of each drill, their benefits, and step-by-step instructions to get you started.Most of the drills require at least one soccer ball. If you don’t have any, you should have a look at my recommendations for soccer balls for toddlers.Let’s take a look at each drill now.This soccer drill keeps the classic schoolyard games’ central idea, “red light, green light,” in mind, the only difference being that the children will keep a soccer ball at their feet.Children start by standing on one side of the field, and you, the coach, will be positioned on the opposite side.The drill aims for the children to follow your shoutouts and race toward you.Another option I often prefer is to allow the children to find a place wherever they see fit and let them run around randomly on the field with the ball.Then, when you shout out “green light,” it means that the players must dash.Shouting “yellow light” indicates slower movements.And the highlight of the game, “red light,” means a complete stop.A stop must be executed by placing one foot on the ball using the sole of the foot.The first child to reach you is the winner.Check out the drill in this video below.There are numerous benefits to this drill.The main benefit is that the drill helps the children to work on their speed change and ball control, which in turn will allow them to:Step 1: Line the children up at a starting line or use a 20 by 20 yards marked-off area. Using four cones will suffice.Step 2: You should be positioned around 15-20 yards away from the children, with your back facing them.Step 3: You must yell “green light,” signaling the children to dribble the ball toward you as quickly as possible. Encourage the children to pretend to be zooming race car drivers.Step 4: Yelling “yellow light” indicates slower dribbling movements and small touches, keeping the ball close to the body.Step 5: Children must reach a dead stop when you yell “red light,” keeping the ball frozen, one foot on the ball.Step 6: After yelling “red light,” you must briefly wait and then turn around to check if anyone is still moving.Step 7: If caught moving, the child must return to the starting point and restart their game.Step 8: Continue alternating between the three color lights until the first child reaches you and becomes the winner of the round.Step 9: Play as many rounds as you wish.Step 10: (Optional) Encourage the children to make their own versions of other colors. For example, a purple light could mean dance on the spot.“Volcanoes” is another excellent way of developing children’s basic soccer skills while having fun.You need to create what can be imagined to be a little “cone maze” by placing several cones reasonably close together in a random formation on the field. (These cones on Amazon are a great option if you don’t have any.)These cones you have just set up are the hot, erupting “volcanoes,” and the kids need to dribble the ball through the maze without hitting any of the volcanoes.You are encouraged to make loud exploding noises if any cones are hit! I find this always brings a laugh out of the kids!This drill is one of several kindergarten soccer drills that can be played individually or as part of a team.You can find more ball control soccer drills in my list of 10 Soccer Ball Control and Footwork Drills (For All Ages)Check out the drill in this video below.This super fun drill benefits the children in the following ways:Step 1: Start by placing a good number of cones semi-close to each other in a random pattern on the field.Step 2: Position the children with a stationary ball at a decided starting point.Step 3: On your signal, the children must dribble the ball through the cone maze without hitting any “volcanoes.” The children should dribble from one side of the field to the other.Step 4: Please make your most impressive exploding noises if any cones are hit.Step 5: Motivate the children to repeat the drill as many times as they choose.Step 6: Increase the difficulty of the drill by encouraging the children to speed up with every attempt at getting through the maze. They need to be able to maintain reasonable ball control while dribbling comfortably.Does the name of this drill mean what you think it means? Oh yes, it does!Coaches, you need to prepare to get hit by the ball!But they are just kindergarten kids; how hard can the hit be?I can tell you that this is one of the most enjoyable kindergarten soccer drills that will keep the kids laughing and coming back for more…I mean, how often does one get the opportunity to hit your coach?This drill entails the children standing in a squared-off area as a team, intentionally aiming to kick and hit you as many times as possible.Once the ball hits you, the kids may pick an animal that you need to act out.Keep going until all the children have had a turn or two. Go ahead and have fun, and please remember to be goofy!Check out the drill in this video below.The benefits of using this drill are that the kindergarten children can:Step 1: Set out four cones to create a boxed/square area on the field.Step 2: Position all the players inside the box, each with their ball.Step 3: You need to place yourself in front of your players.Step 4: On your signal, the children may kick and aim the ball at your legs.Step 5: Every player who succeeds at hitting you may choose an animal for you to act out.Step 6: Continue with the drill until all players have had a turn to hit you with their balls.Step 7: (Optional) Create different versions of the game, such as “Hit The Parent,” etc.Pinnie Snag Tag is by far one of the more favorable warm-up activities, which can double up as a fun and effective soccer drill, too.When using this game as a warm-up, players will not need a ball, only a teammate to work with.To exercise the drill version of the Pinnie Snag Tag, a designated playing area can be marked off with cones, and the kindergarten children are given a ball each, with a pinnie tag hanging out of their shorts.Players are omitted if their pinnies are pulled out, or their ball is kicked out of the marked playing area.Check out the drill in this video below.This drill is an excellent way for kindergarten children to:Step 1: Use discretion to map out a reasonably sized playing area using cones. The size is dependent on the number of players.Step 2: Each player places a pinnie tag hanging from the back of their shorts and receives a ball.Step 3: On your signal, players attempt to pull the tag out of each other’s shorts while exercising their agility, ball, and speed skills.Step 4: A pulled-out tag means the player is “out.”Step 5: A kicked-out ball also indicates the end of a player’s turn.Step 6: The last player standing is declared the winner.Step 7: Repeat the drill with and without a ball as often as the children’s concentration levels see fit.Sharks and Minnows is most definitely on the list of the most amusing kindergarten soccer drills.I use this one so much that I’ve also added it to my list of 9 Fun (and Effective) Youth Soccer Drills For Kids and 8 Best Soccer Drills For Midfielders.In this drill, the children may be given a turn to be a shark or a minnow.This game is a fantastic soccer practice drill that is an excellent staple for beginner levels.The task of the minnows is to dribble the ball from one side of the “ocean”(field) to the other, ensuring that the sharks do not get a hold of their ball.As the coach, you usually play the role of the shark, but once a player’s ball is kicked away, they can become a shark, too.The idea is to use small ball touches to dodge around the shark and big touches to run away. Encourage the children to execute both left and right kicks, too.Alternatively, the drill can also be practiced by choosing a player or two to be the shark from the get-go, allowing you to use a whistle or signal to get the drill going.Check out the drill in this video below.This drill will help kindergarten players to:Step 1: Use four cones to secure a playing area of approximately 30 yards long by 20 yards wide. This is the “ocean.”Step 2: You may opt to pick one or two children to be the sharks themselves.Step 3: Line up the minnows on one side of the field, with a ball for each of them.Step 4: Signal the start of the drill, allowing the minnows to try to run past the sharks while retaining their balls by attempting to dribble from one side of the ocean to the other.Step 5: The round ends when players reach the other side.Step 6: Players who don’t go to the other side and whose balls are knocked away by the shark become the new sharks.Step 7: Repeat the drill until only one player is left to be declared the winning minnow.Which kindergarten kid doesn’t enjoy a traditional old game of Simon Says? I know I certainly did back in the day.The gist of the drill is for Simon (you) to give instructions for the children to follow.This is your grand opportunity to be as funny and silly as possible, fostering good connections with the children on their levels and adding humor to kindergarten soccer drills.Each player is given a ball to begin with, and they need to listen to Simon’s instructions carefully. The most popular instructions include:This is a great drill to add to your list of soccer drills for beginners.Check out the drill in this video below.This is a fantastic drill for kindergarten children to:Step 1: Prepare a decent-sized square of field (big enough to avoid bumping each other) and provide each player with a soccer ball.Step 2: Begin by giving the instructions slowly, only one at a time. For example: “Simon says place your foot on the ball.” “Simon says kick the ball to your friend.”Step 3: Continue with as many creative instructions as possible, such as “Simon says dribble your ball to a friend with brown hair.”Step 4: Add a few non-soccer-related instructions, such as skip, jump, clapping hands twice, etc.Step 5: Call out specific individuals, praising their good listening and following skills to create an encouraging atmosphere.Step 6: End the drill when the children’s focus and concentration wear off.With this drill, players must be divided into two even teams and given the same number of balls.A moat must be created in the middle of the field, precisely between the two teams. Both teams need to “clean their backyards.”To achieve this, the players are challenged to kick their balls into the other teams’ “backyard.”This is the ideal way of blowing off some steam in kindergarten soccer drills.You will need to remove any balls that land inside the moat, and the drill aims to see which team can clean their “backyards” the quickest to be declared the winner.Check out the drill in this video below.The specific goals of this drill are to:Step 1: Create two teams by dividing all of your players equally.Step 2: Provide each team with an equal amount of soccer balls.Step 3: Use four cones to mark an area of 40 by 30 yards with a 5-yard-wide moat in the middle of the field.Step 4: Start the drill by giving a signal and have the players attempt to kick as many balls over the moat and into the other team’s “backyard” as possible.Step 5: Remove the balls that are kicked into the moat.Step 6: The team that cleans their “backyard” first wins.Step 7: Repeat the drill, giving each team a chance to play on both sides of the field.This drill is easiest to do with at least four players, each with their own ball.The players are challenged to dribble their balls in a marked-out grid.After roughly 30 seconds, you must shout, “Change! “.Players need to stop where they are and swiftly locate a new ball to continue the dribbling exercise. This game works similarly to “musical chairs,” just without the actual music.One ball is removed after the first round, leaving a child to run without a ball. After another 30 seconds, you must once again signal a change while the players need to find a new ball.The player without a ball is “out” and is encouraged to cheer on their remaining teammates. This drill is repeated until only one player remains and is declared the winner.Check out the drill in this video below.Musical Balls certainly bring an element of fun into kindergarten soccer drills and help to develop the following skills in your kids:Step 1: Using cones, create a box for the players to work in, a marked grid of approximately 20 by 15 yards.Step 2: The round begins on your signal.Step 3: Players dribble their balls in the grid.Step 4: You must call out “change” after 30 seconds.Step 5: Players stop, find a new ball, and continue to dribble at your signal.Step 6: Remove one player’s ball after the first round. This player then proceeds without a ball.Step 7: Call out “Change” during each round, eliminating the “ball-less” player each time. The eliminated player moves out of the grid, and thus, another ball is removed.Step 8: Repeat the drill until only one player remains, the “winner.”The drills and games discussed above are the perfect way to introduce your kindergarten kids to soccer and help them begin to acquire all the necessary soccer skills.They do all this while having fun and developing a genuine love for the sport.After all, young children learn so effectively through play and imagination, so implementing all or some of these drills will produce happy, well-rounded little players.Check out even more drills in one of my following articles:Once soccer players are ten, coaching techniques and drills should intensify to accelerate their performance and fitness levels during games.Increasing the difficulty they face during practice...Continue ReadingDribbling is a fundamental ball control skill in soccer.Effective dribbling is crucial for retaining possession of the ball, enabling players to avoid tackle attempts and create space for...Continue ReadingHi, welcome to my website. My name’s Ben and I’ve been playing, watching, and enjoying soccer for as long as I can remember! I’ve created this site to share different things with you that I’ve learned, and am learning, about soccer along the way. Whether you're new to soccer or you've been enjoying it for years I'm glad you're here!This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies such as Flexoffers and ShareaSale, linked to on this site.

Skip to contentRunning through soccer drills with kindergarten-age kids can be so much fun. But only if you choose drills they find fun!I have a daughter who is currently in kindergarten, and she loves learning through simple play-based activities, such as the soccer drills I’m going to describe to you here.These drills can easily be defined as “beginner and basic soccer games for kids.” But teaching them new skills through games is exactly what they need at this stage.Not only will these drills build their soccer skills, but they will also assist in developing the fundamentals that young...

8 Best Kindergarten Soccer Drills: Grow Their Love for the Game | Your Soccer Home

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