Shrinking Goals

An introductory kicking activity that focuses on kicking accuracy.

Set up

Set up two poles (try two broomsticks, two waterbottles, two pieces of tape on a wall) as goals, starting very wide. ~5-10 meters away, mark out a line where children stand. Give each child a soccer ball (or take turns).

How to play
Step 1:
  • On your instruction, everyone kicks their ball at the goal
  • When safe to do so, collect your ball and reload
Step 2:
  • When everyone has successfully kicked a goal, narrow the posts by bringing the poles in and then repeat
Step 3:
  • Keep narrowing the goals until you are left with only one pole and everyone tries to hit the pole
Variations
Make it easier
  • Start with even wider goals, only narrowing slightly with each round
  • If your child is not having success, allow them to take a step closer with each attempt
Make it harder
  • Make each round much harder than the last! Narrowing the goals each round will force your child to develop greater accuracy
  • Start the children from further away
  • Someone stands in the goals as the 'Goalie'
  • Children dribble the ball back to their marker
Activity information
Age: 3-5 years, Kindergarten, Pre-Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6
Participants: 2 +
Equipment: Soccer balls, Flat markers (optional), Soccer goals
Duration: 10 minutes
Skill focus
Explore these skills for teaching tips
Skill teaching

To teach soccer kicking, use the following teaching cues;

  1. Eyes on the ball
  2. Kicking foot like a penguin (twist it outwards)
  3. Step, swing, and kick
Activity summary
Physical literacy tips
  • Have a variety of different balls available if this suits
  • Let children have multiple attempts at each goal size before shrinking
  • Stand in the goals and the children have to aim for you!