Soccer Skills

Soccer is a team sport where players use their feet to pass, dribble and shoot the ball, while the goalkeeper is the only one allowed to use their hands within the penalty area.
Teaching cues
Kicking
- Eyes on the ball.
- Kicking foot like a penguin (twist it outwards).
- Step next to the ball (non-kicking foot).
- Swing and kick (with your penguin foot).
Dribbling
- Keep the ball close like it is attached to your foot with a piece of string.
- Small, soft taps of the ball.
- Use both feet and all parts of your foot.
Trapping
- Move body to face the ball and get in line with its path.
- Use the inside of your foot or the sole to cushion and control the ball.
- Relax your foot to gently absorb the ball’s impact, bringing it to a stop.
- Keep the ball close to your feet so you can quickly pass, dribble or shoot.
Drop Punt (goalkeeping)
- Hold the ball in both hands at waist height, in front of you.
- Eyes on the ball.
- Drop the ball straight onto your shoelaces and kick it as it falls.
- Follow through with your leg towards the target for power and accuracy.
Teaching strategies
- Play games such as Musical Soccer and Traffic Lights to give children the opportunity to have their own soccer ball and to participate at their own pace.
- Play fun partner games to introduce kicking to a target, like Soccer Marbles.
Introduce running with the ball which involves using all parts of the foot to control the ball in tight spaces and to change direction.
- Make long running strides.
- Use the outside of both feet to control the ball.
- Keep the ball a little further in front of you as you run.
- Keep eyes up to scan the field ahead for passing, crossing and shooting opportunities.
Play games like Rob the Nest and Cone Monster to practice running with the ball under pressure.
Introduce One v One situations through different games like
- Keep the Ball Close: Use all parts of your foot to move the ball side to side and change direction quickly.
- Eyes Up: Always look up to check where the defender is and see options for passing or shooting.
- Change Pace & Direction: Use a sudden change of speed or direction to surprise the defender and get past them.
- Practice dribbling under pressure with Dribble Tag (Soccer), Lottery (Soccer) or King (Queen) of the Ring.
- Focus on kicking accuracy with games like Bump (Soccer Kicking) or
- Introduce game strategies and tactics with mini games like Small Sided Soccer or Modified Games (Invasion).
Skill criteria
Kicking
- Eyes focused on ball throughout kick
- Forward and sideward swing of arm opposite kicking leg
- Non-kicking foot placed beside the ball
- Hips then shoulders rotate forward
- Contacts ball with inside or top (shoelaces) of foot
- Kicking leg follows through towards target area
Dribbling
- Dribbles with the inside and outside of feet
- Moves ball from one foot to the other
- Maintains even balance
- Lifts head to look around
- Arms move to assist action
Trapping
- Moves body to face the ball and get in line with its path
- Uses the inside of your foot or the sole to cushion and control the ball
- Relaxes foot to gently absorb the ball’s impact, bringing it to a stop
- Keeps the ball close for quick follow-up actions
Common errors
- Incorrect positioning of the non-kicking foot affecting balance, or not following through.
- Dribbling with too much force and making it hard to control the ball.
- Not looking up at surroundings when kicking or dribbling.
- Relying on one foot only.