The following article will outline some of the most enjoyable football games for kids.
Published at : October 28, 2022
Another simple game that you will probably have encountered at some stage is Piggy in the Middle. This game can be played with as few as three players and is a great way to warm up.
One player is designated as the ‘piggy’ whilst the others have to pass the ball between them, avoiding the piggy. If the ball is intercepted then the last person to touch it swaps in for the piggy.
There can be lots of variation to this game with additional players, more people intercepting and limits on number of touches.
This game is useful for developing passing accuracy, decision-making, anticipation, and interceptions.
Cops and Robbers
This game has a little bit more to it but is easy enough for young kids to grasp after some practise.
You will need a set of cops and robbers with the cops outnumbering the robbers. Cops start with a ball each which the robbers do not have a ball. The aim of the game is for the robbers to tackle the ball off the cops and take it a marked-out area known as the bank. Once the ball is stopped in the bank, the cop who lost the ball now becomes a robber. The game continues until there is only one cop remaining.
Cops and robbers is a good game for improving tackling, shielding, dribbling, and awareness.
Musical Chairs
Another well-known game that can be adapted into a fun football drill is musical chairs.
This will work in much the same way as musical chairs. Play music with a set of football placed next to each other. Make sure that there is one less ball than there are players. Have the kids walk around the balls until the music stops, at which point they must race to collect a ball. The player left without a ball is eliminated and the game continues until one player is left.
This version of musical chairs is great for sharpness, stamina, and reactions.
King of the Hill
This game can be a little chaotic but is a lot of fun and definitely has its benefits.
Set up a grid for each player to dribble a ball within. The aim of the game is to keep control of your ball whilst trying to eliminate other players by kicking their footballs out of the grid.
king of the hill
Lots of skills are involved in this game including shielding, tackling, dribbling, timing, and speed.
Relay Race
This game can be as simple as the name suggests. It can be played with several teams competing against each other to see who finishes first or with just one team trying to beat your previous time.
Players must run from one marked line to another where the next player will be waiting. The next player starts their section after being tagged. This game can be played with or without a ball.
Relay races will help improve teamwork, pace, and reactions among many other skills.
Grab ‘Em
For this game you will need to mark out an area for each player. These areas must be equidistant from the central communal area. In the communal area there will be several balls. Kids must race towards these and take one back at a time to their area. The player with the most balls in their area when the communal area is empty is the winner.
This game is great for improving sprinting technique, stamina, and ball control.
Gates
Set up a playing area in the same way you would set up a football pitch. The main difference here are the ‘goals’. You’ll want to make these goals smaller as player will need to dribble the ball through them or pass it through. There are no goalkeepers in this game as the main aim is not to shoot but to get past your opponent with skill or careful passing.
football gates game
This game is perfect for improving teamwork, movement, passing, dribbling, and defending as a unit.
If your child wants to have fun whilst playing football why not bring them down to a Samba Soccer Schools? We specialise in teaching football the Brazilian way! For more information, click here.
FAQs About Fun Football Games
What are the best football games for kids?
The above article describes some of the best football games that kids of all abilities can play.
Can football games help kids develop football skills?
Absolutely. Football games aren’t just fun and have lots of different benefits to your child’s football development.
What team football games are there?
The article above has lots of different games that can be enjoyed in groups or teams.
One player is designated as the ‘piggy’ whilst the others have to pass the ball between them, avoiding the piggy. If the ball is intercepted then the last person to touch it swaps in for the piggy.
There can be lots of variation to this game with additional players, more people intercepting and limits on number of touches.
This game is useful for developing passing accuracy, decision-making, anticipation, and interceptions.
Cops and Robbers
This game has a little bit more to it but is easy enough for young kids to grasp after some practise.
You will need a set of cops and robbers with the cops outnumbering the robbers. Cops start with a ball each which the robbers do not have a ball. The aim of the game is for the robbers to tackle the ball off the cops and take it a marked-out area known as the bank. Once the ball is stopped in the bank, the cop who lost the ball now becomes a robber. The game continues until there is only one cop remaining.
Cops and robbers is a good game for improving tackling, shielding, dribbling, and awareness.
Musical Chairs
Another well-known game that can be adapted into a fun football drill is musical chairs.
This will work in much the same way as musical chairs. Play music with a set of football placed next to each other. Make sure that there is one less ball than there are players. Have the kids walk around the balls until the music stops, at which point they must race to collect a ball. The player left without a ball is eliminated and the game continues until one player is left.
This version of musical chairs is great for sharpness, stamina, and reactions.
King of the Hill
This game can be a little chaotic but is a lot of fun and definitely has its benefits.
Set up a grid for each player to dribble a ball within. The aim of the game is to keep control of your ball whilst trying to eliminate other players by kicking their footballs out of the grid.
king of the hill
Lots of skills are involved in this game including shielding, tackling, dribbling, timing, and speed.
Relay Race
This game can be as simple as the name suggests. It can be played with several teams competing against each other to see who finishes first or with just one team trying to beat your previous time.
Players must run from one marked line to another where the next player will be waiting. The next player starts their section after being tagged. This game can be played with or without a ball.
Relay races will help improve teamwork, pace, and reactions among many other skills.
Grab ‘Em
For this game you will need to mark out an area for each player. These areas must be equidistant from the central communal area. In the communal area there will be several balls. Kids must race towards these and take one back at a time to their area. The player with the most balls in their area when the communal area is empty is the winner.
This game is great for improving sprinting technique, stamina, and ball control.
Gates
Set up a playing area in the same way you would set up a football pitch. The main difference here are the ‘goals’. You’ll want to make these goals smaller as player will need to dribble the ball through them or pass it through. There are no goalkeepers in this game as the main aim is not to shoot but to get past your opponent with skill or careful passing.
football gates game
This game is perfect for improving teamwork, movement, passing, dribbling, and defending as a unit.
If your child wants to have fun whilst playing football why not bring them down to a Samba Soccer Schools? We specialise in teaching football the Brazilian way! For more information, click here.
FAQs About Fun Football Games
What are the best football games for kids?
The above article describes some of the best football games that kids of all abilities can play.
Can football games help kids develop football skills?
Absolutely. Football games aren’t just fun and have lots of different benefits to your child’s football development.
What team football games are there?
The article above has lots of different games that can be enjoyed in groups or teams.
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