Games / Activities for 3 and 4 year olds

Games / Activities for 3 and 4 year olds

Game / Activity

1. Snakes in the Grass

Setup:

Mark an area approximately 15 yds x 15 yds, Two children begin by being "snakes" by lying on their stomachs. The other children's starting position is with their hands touching the "snakes." On the command "snake in the grass" the children try to stay away from the

snake while the snake slithers around trying to catch a child. When any child is caught he/she becomes an additional snake. The activity continues until everyone is a snake.

Purpose / Lesson:

The children move in all directions trying to avoid the snakes. Once snakes, the children try to work together to create more snakes.

Game / Activity

2. Find the Coach

Setup:

With no soccer ball have the children spread out in a given area Have the children close their eyes Coach moves to a location and says "Find the Coach". Children open their eyes and race to tag the coach. Progress to moving around after saying "Find the Coach"

Purpose / Lesson:

This activity quickly becomes a game of chase and run. The children begin to run in a direction, and for a purpose. Later they will do the same with a soccer ball, but first they learn to run to a

target.

Game / Activity

3. Tag ? Everyone is it

Setup:

Mark an area approximately 20 yds x 20 yds or half the soccer field Each child runs around trying to tag as many other children as possible while not

being tagged themselves. o First without soccer ball o Progress to using soccer ball

Each round lasts about 30 to 45 seconds.

Purpose / Lesson:

The children must be aware of their surroundings and make decisions about where to go and where to avoid.

Game / Activity

4. Red Light / Green Light

Setup:

Line children up on one of the end lines, make it a race to the other end line Explain what each color of light means

o Red Light ? Stop soccer ball with foot on top of ball o Green Light ? Dribble the soccer ball o Yellow Light ? Slow down Add other color lights and make up what to do for them or ask the kids what should happen for a light color Run activity a few times and add a light color each time

Purpose / Lesson:

The children learn how to stop and go with the ball, control their speed and maintain control of the ball.

Game / Activity

5. Body Parts

Setup:

Mark an area approximately 20 yds x 20 yds or half the soccer field Make sure all children know their body parts Children dribble ball around in designated area Coach calls out a body part and the kids must stop the ball with that part Progress to calling combinations such as Ear and Knee NEVER CALL / SAY HANDS

Purpose / Lesson:

At the end as the kids which body part was never called Hands ? because we do not use our hands in soccer

Game / Activity

6. Shoot the Moon

Setup:

Line children up on one of the end lines with their soccer ball Place 2 soccer balls or cones approximately 5 yards away One at a time players kick their ball and try to hit one of the balls / cones in the

middle. Move the 2 balls / cones around after everyone has shot

Purpose / Lesson:

Learn to see and hit a target

Game / Activity

7. Sharks and Minnows

Setup:

The minnows, the players with a ball, line up shoulder to shoulder on one of the end lines.

One player is designated as the shark and positioned inside of the field without a soccer ball.

On the coach's command, the minnows must dribble their ball through the field and get to the other side without getting their ball stolen or kicked away by the shark.

If a player loses their ball while crossing the field, he/she becomes a shark. Sometimes this game is difficult for the 3 / 4 yr olds to understand, try it and if it

does not work ? move on to something else.

Purpose / Lesson:

Dribbling under pressure Decision making Change of speed Change of direction Defending This is an inclusive game...the players are either dribbling a ball or trying to get

one back.

Game / Activity

8. Hit the Coach ? OUCH!!

Setup:

Mark an area approximately 20 yds x 20 yds or half the soccer field Each child has a soccer ball, the Coach / coaches do not When coach says go ? the children try to shoot the ball at the coach and hit them

as many times as they can Each hit is worth a point ? Who can get the most points? Each time the coach gets hit he / she says OUCH!! (The kids seem to like this) Coach can stand still for, move around, and most importantly try to dodge the ball

Purpose / Lesson:

Ball control Shooting accuracy Awareness on the field

Game / Activity

9. Clean your Room

Setup:

Mark an area approximately 20 yds x 20 yds or half the soccer field Mark the center of the area with a line of cones Split children into 2 groups ? one group on each side of the cones Each child has a soccer ball When coach says go ? the children kick the ball to the opposite side to make

their room messy Keep kicking all of the soccer balls that enter your room out. Who can keep their

room the cleanest?

Purpose / Lesson:

Defensive awareness

Game / Activity

Shooting at the Goal

Setup:

Line kids up in front of the goal approximately 5 yards away (parallel to the goal) Each child has a soccer ball and places it in front of them Coach stands in goal Coach selects child one at a time to shoot at the goal and try to score Coach lets most shots (Probably all) go in but makes it look like he / she tried to

stop them After a couple of rounds, line up all the kids with their ball and have them all

shoot at the goal at the same time, trying to hit the coach.

Purpose / Lesson:

Confidence in shooting Accuracy in shooting

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