Soccer Starts at Home: 3rd Installment
In our last installment, we discussed what it means to be your child’s first coach. We can’t make our children enjoy soccer, but we can make soccer a playful, encouraging experience where they don’t even realize they are learning so that they grow a love for not only soccer but moving their bodies and having fun with exercise.
At Soccer Shots, we first teach the skills and then incorporate them into games so that the children can practice what they’ve learned. Games encourage repetition of a skill and show children how to incorporate them into different situations on the field. All the while, the child is just playing and happens to have a soccer ball with them!
Here are two of our most popular Soccer Shots games that you can easily incorporate into playtime at home:
Mr. Fox
This is a favorite amongst the children in our program because it is simple, builds anticipation, and they can actively participate. It works best with older children (ages 4-8) but with modifications is great for the little ones too.
You (the parent or guardian) stand on one side of the space while the child stays on the other with their soccer ball. The child calls “Mr. Fox, Mr. Fox, what time is it?” You respond as the fox, exaggeratedly thinking before calling back a number between 1 and 12. The child then does that amount of tiny kicks before stopping in control. The process repeats until the child is very close to the “Fox.” They love to get as close as possible, so you can drag out the last few by saying very low numbers until they are marching in place.
When they ask what time it is, you then yell “LUNCHTIME!” which means the child has to run back to the other side of the space with their soccer ball so the “Fox” can’t eat it. Ideally they will not pick up the ball but will use their fast dribbling skills to run away.
Challenge increase: Requiring one of the “changing directions” skills after you say “lunchtime.” For example, they have to do a step-over or pull back to turn around and run away. You can also incorporate other skills such as shielding so that as you try to take their soccer ball they are actively defending it.
Challenge decrease: Keep the soccer ball on your side and they can just do steps or stomps on the way over before using tiny kicks to run back when you say “lunchtime.” Or, they can kick the ball on the way to you and then leave it to run away.
This game can be done in groups, one-on-one, and the children can even try out being “Mr. Fox.” It can also be relatively low movement and involvement on your end if necessary as you only need to call out numbers and don’t have to chase them when you say “lunchtime.” They have wild imaginations and may run just the same!
Sleeping Bear
This game is similar to Mr. Fox in that it involves anticipation and ends with a chase. You (the parent or guardian) will be the sleeping bear that falls asleep in the forest. You can build the forest through imagination, with cones, or with any household obstacles like pillows and toys. This game is great for practicing several skills. Usually in Soccer Shots we use it for pull back and defense skills like inside and outside chops, scissors, and shielding.
For younger children, playing it with pull back looks like putting the soccer ball (or multiple if you have more than one) next to the sleeping bear. When you (the bear) fall asleep, the child has to sneak up and pull back the soccer ball without disturbing you and then dribble it back to their starting point. If/when they “wake you up,” you chase them and they have to dribble their soccer ball back without being caught.
For older children, you can incorporate the defense skills into the chase or let them be the sleeping bear and practice trying to steal the ball away from you.
This can also be done in groups or one-on-one, and can go on as long or short as you want! Adapt it to your child’s interests, attention level, and skill level.
These two games leave a lot of room for adjustments, different themes, advancements, and most importantly, connection with your soccer player. The next time you get invited to your child’s playtime, try out one of these games and watch their excitement for soccer blossom!