WEEK 1-2 LESSON PLANS

5-7 Soccer Lessons

TECHNIQUE
Today we are going to learn how to keep a ball close while dribbling.

IMPORTANCE
Keeping a ball close to your body is important because it improves your ability to dribble under pressure. When dribbling, it is important to:

STORYLINE
Today we are Warming Up before our games. Your goal is to follow the Coach and listen to instructions.

INSTRUCTIONS

• When I say, “GO!”:
  • Stretch - up into sky then touch your toes
  • Do 10 arm circles forward and backward
  • Sit on your bottom and stretch to toes
  • Calf stretch
  • Flamingo stretch
• Run without the soccer ball from baseline to end line
• Dribble with your soccer ball from baseline to end line.

STORYLINE
Today we are playing Cone Race. Your goal is to dribble through the course without touching any of the cones.

INSTRUCTIONS

• I will divide you into two teams.
• Before the game begins, line up single file behind your team’s marker cone.
• When I say, “GO!” the first person in line will start dribbling through the course.
• When you have made it to the end of the course dribbling back around the outside and get back in line.
• The next person in line can go after the person in front of them has made it to the third cone.

TEACHING TIPS

• Approach: Remind children to use the inside of both feet.
• Discussion: Ask students to share who they saw doing a good job at controlling their ball with both feet.

STORYLINE
Today we are playing Bermuda Triangle. Your goal is to dribble to as many islands as possible with your soccer ball.

INSTRUCTIONS

• Before the game begins, chose an island to start on.
• When I say, “GO!” start dribbling your ball to another island.
• You cannot go directly back to the island you were at before.
• We will begin a new game when everyone has made it to an island. 

TEACHING TIPS

• Approach: Remind children to keep their heads up while dribbling to avoid bumping into others.
• Approach: Remind students the closer they keep their ball to their body, the less chance it has to be stolen during Game 3.
• Discussion: Ask students to share who they saw doing a good job at keeping the ball close to their body.

STORYLINE
Today we are playing Shuttles. Your goal is to pass the soccer ball as many times as possible to your teammates.

INSTRUCTIONS

• I will divide you into groups of four. Each group will have two tall cones.
• Before the game begins, set your tall cones at least 5 – 6 feet apart.
• Split your group up so that two children are behind each cone.
• Ro Sham Bo to decide which cone starts with the ball first.
• When I say, “GO!” the first child with the ball will pass it to tall cone in front of them.
• The opposing teammate will stop the ball and pass it to the opposing teammate.
• After you have made a pass, get in line behind the tall cone you passed to.
• We will begin a new game when everyone has made ten passes.

TEACHING TIPS

• Approach: Divide groups equally based on athletic ability.
• Discussion: Ask students to share who they saw doing a good job at cushioning the ball with the inside of their foot when receiving a pass.

STORYLINE
Today we are playing Keep It Close. Your goal is to protect your soccer ball from being kicked out-of-bounds by another teammate.

INSTRUCTIONS

• Before the game begins, line up shoulder-to-shoulder with your ball on the baseline.
• When I say, “GO!” start dribbling your ball anywhere inside the field.
• You must try and kick someone’s else ball while protecting your own.
• If your ball gets kicked out, you must go to the Coach and complete a physical challenge. 

TEACHING TIPS

• Approach: Remind students to keep their heads up while dribbling to avoid bumping into others.
• Approach: Remind students the closer they keep their ball to their body, the less chance it will be kicked out by someone else.
• Discussion: Ask students to share what was easy or hard about keeping their ball close during this game.

STORYLINE
Today we are playing a Coach Lead Scrimmage. Your goal is to shoot a soccer ball into the opposing team’s goal.

INSTRUCTIONS

• I will divide you into two teams –using pinnies to tell who you are.
• Before the game begins, spread out on your side of the field.
• I will decide which team starts with the ball first.
• When I say, “GO!” the team with the ball will start.
• You cannot touch the ball with your hands, you can only kick the ball.
• There are no goalies, you must stand 3 – 5 feet away from your goal when defending.
• If a goal is scored, go back to your team’s side and we will begin a new round.
• If I blow my whistle at any point, freeze where you are.

TEACHING TIPS

• Approach: Divide teams equally based on athletic ability.
• Approach: Remind children the whistle will be blown at various times during the game for teaching moments.
• Approach: Add short cones around the goal if defenders are staying 3 – 5 feet away.
• Discussion: Ask children to share what was easy or hard about receiving a pass while stationary.

STORYLINE
Today we are playing Pinball Machine. Your goal is to have as few balls as possible in your team’s rectangle at the end of each round.

INSTRUCTIONS

• Before the game begins, I will divide you into four teams.
• When I say, “GO!” kick the balls in your rectangle to the rectangle right of you.
• If you kick the ball too hard and it goes out-of-bounds, you must retrieve it.
• At the end of two minutes, we will count how many balls are left in your rectangle.
• We will begin a new round when all the balls have been counted.

TEACHING TIPS

• Approach: Divide teams equally based on athletic ability.
• Discussion: Ask students to share what was easy or hard about passing off the dribble.