Target Practice
See how many soccer targets you can hit! A non-competitive soccer activity that develops kicking and dribbling skills - suits any number of children of any ability.
Set up
Create a playing space, bounded by markers if desired. Along the edges of the playing space, set up kicking targets. Set up flat markers a suitable distance away (3-5 metres) from each target for the children to kick from. Ideas for targets include;
- Waterbottles
- Soft toys
- Pillows
- Printed pictures of your child's favourite things
- Chalk drawings
- Boxes
How to play
Step 1:
- Children dribble their ball around the activity space, keeping the ball close
Step 2:
- When you say, "Ready, Aim.." children quickly dribble to a target, and on "Fire!" they try to kick their ball at the target
Step 3:
- Children then collect their ball, fix the target up and continue dribbling around the space
- Continue calling out instructions, with children having to move to a new target each time
Variations
Make it easier
- Keep the playing space small to encourage children to focus on keeping their ball close
- Start by slow dribbling
Make it harder
- Try setting up an obstacle course that children must dribble through before finding their target
- Spread the game out across a larger space, so children have to both dribble and kick further
Activity information
Age: 3-5 years, Kindergarten / Pre-school, Foundation, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3
Participants: 1
+
Equipment: Markers (optional), Targets, Soccer balls
Duration: 10 minutes
Skill focus
Explore these skills for teaching tips
Skill teaching
Demonstrate how to keep control while dribbling a soccer ball, use the following teaching cues to support this;
- Keep the ball close like it is attached with a short bit of string to your foot
- Small, soft taps of the ball
- Use all parts of your foot
- Look up
- Use both feet
Activity summary
Physical literacy tips
- Before playing, let the children build/create their own targets
- Combine this with Musical Soccer! When the music pauses children must find a target to kick at
- Use lighter balls, like a spiky ball, if suitable