Shrinking Goals

Children kicking at soccer goals

An introductory kicking activity that focuses on kicking accuracy.

Set up

Set up agility poles as goals, starting very wide. On each side of the goals, ~5-10 meters away, place enough flat markers per child. Divide the children into two teams, half on either side. Give one team a soccer ball per child. The children with soccer balls find a marker, and get ready to kick, while the children on the other team stand at their markers on the other side of the goals, ready to collect. 

How to play
Step 1:
  • The team with the balls kicks, aiming to get within the goal
  • The team on the other side collects the balls as they roll over to their side
Step 2:
  • The other team has a turn kicking for the goal
Step 3:
  • Narrow the goals by bringing the poles in and then repeat
  • 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 a 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 the child to develop greater accuracy
  • Start the children from further away
  • Educator stands in the goals as the 'Goalie'
  • Children dribble the ball back to their marker
Activity information
Age: Three year olds, Kindergarten, Pre-Primary, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6
Participants: 2 +
Equipment: Soccer balls, Flat markers, Agility poles
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 your group
  • Let children have multiple attempts at each goal size before shrinking
  • Have the educator stand in the goals and the children have to aim for them!