Fun soccer games

We recommend Fun Soccer Games as a regular part of your coaching program – fun should always be high on your agenda as a coach.

As a subscriber to this website you get access to 75 Fun Soccer Games for age groups from U5 to U15. If a subscription is not for you, visit our shop where you can buy the same games in printed and e-book formats.

Below are some great fun games. They teach kids skills but they’re all about having fun while they learn. With these games in your locker, you can’t be accused of running a boring coaching session.

Shrinking goal

in Fun soccer games, Shooting

This is a great game since it provides a natural handicap that makes even the most unequal of teams (in terms of player skill) equal. So let your players choose their own teams, if necessary, and enjoy the game’s effect! MORE

Slam… for one or two players

in Ball Control and Footwork, Fun soccer games

We're all facing up to what we can do during the lockdown where there can only be one or two people in a gathering. So here is a game that can be played with one or two that is good fun and skilful MORE

Warm up circle

in Arrival activities, Fun soccer games, Warm Ups

Great for any age group, getting brains warmed up with gentle running and getting players to concentrate and think about what they have to do. Simple but very effective. MORE

Fun sessions to focus young minds

in Email newsletters, Fun soccer games

Getting back into the swing of training every week can be hard work. Certainly for me when faced with a dozen U9 players training last night was very stop/start as players got their legs working again and tried to pass and receive. MORE

Last training before Christmas?

in Email newsletters, Fun soccer games

It is such a busy time of the year and parents and coaches alike still need to think about getting to training and running sessions that keeps the players focused even though their minds are on Christmas. And the fact that they had their Christmas party at the club at the weekend already gives an end of term feel! MORE

Shooting competition

in Fun soccer games, Shooting

This session coaches two-touch shooting, one of the weapons Aaron Ramsey of Juventus uses on the edge of the area to control and fire in a shot. This is a fun game that gets players competing against each other in teams MORE

Where’s the fun in that?

in Blog, Fun soccer games

Young players learn a lot from the environment you create, the words you use and the way you explain the sessions to them. Making sure the atmosphere and the games are fun is key to success in your coaching. MORE

Throw-in frenzy

in Fun soccer games, Set pieces

Use this fun training session to encourage your players to take quick throw-ins in order to catch your opponents off guard and create scoring chances MORE

Waiting for players

in Arrival activities, Fun soccer games

This session is set up so that as players arrive they can easily join in without you needing to stop or change the session. The arrival activity shown here is geared towards closing down the opposition in midfield. Set up You need balls, bibs and cones in an area 20×20 yards. Numbers build up as... MORE

Rapid shooting

in Arrival activities, Fun soccer games, Shooting

This fun, shooting activity gives all players the opportunity to shoot in a fast paced competitive game. MORE

Bees and wasps

in Fun soccer games, Soccer dribbling drills

This fun session gives players an understanding of how to defend and develop team communication. It also works on dribbling, and it encourages awareness of space and helps players to see what’s around them by keeping their heads up. MORE

Switch and Score

in Fun soccer games, Soccer drills and skills

If you use this session your players will improve their ability to switch play, to play with their heads up and it will speed up their decision making. MORE

Three Ways to Win

in Fun soccer games, Soccer drills and skills

Use this fast-paced game to improve dribbling skills, ball control and shooting. MORE

Attack! Attack!

in Fun soccer games, Other, Soccer drills and skills

Age group: U7 – U14 Set up: Create a 20 x 30 playing area. This might seem like a big area for just four players but the big space will create more breakaway situations and will encourage players to run into spaces during matches. Place a small goal on each end line. Split your... MORE

I Need a Doctor!

in Fun soccer games, Soccer drills and skills

I Need a Doctor! is a fun game for six to eight-year-olds. It improves their co-ordination, dribbling skills and ability to make decisions. MORE

Inject some fun into pre-season

in Email newsletters, Fun soccer games, Pre-season

Pre-season fitness and warm-up routines can be very demanding on young players, so amongst all the hard work it's important to remember to add some elements of fun into your sessions. MORE

5 ways to have fun at training

in Email newsletters, Fun soccer games, Tips and advice

Kids like nothing more than to have fun – and fun games are great for encouraging youth teams to play with flair and imagination. MORE

Loving the game and smashing it in midfield

in Email newsletters, Fun soccer games, Midfield

Ask Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante how young players can learn from him and play like him and he will tell you: “They need to love the game. I loved it so much I played all the time. I played before school, at school, after school, then I’d go to my club and train or play a... MORE

Up and Down

in Attacking, Fun soccer games

A game for reacting to gained or lost ball, speed and direction, passing and forward runs, defend and delay, and recovery runs to mark players or space. MORE

Triple Whammy

in Attacking, Fun soccer games

This fun game has reactions to call/ball. First touch (may be a shot or header). Support from team mates. Dribble and shoot/pass and follow ups. MORE

Long and Short of It

in Fun soccer games, Passing

This game improves players’ ability to make quick decisions on play and enhances awareness and judgement on space and distance. It involves support play angles and distances, reaction to lost and regained possession & awareness of space and team mates. MORE

Six Shooter

in Fun soccer games, Shooting

Great way to improve attitude to shooting, accuracy/power, support play and follow ups. Skills include creating space and good body shape to receive the ball for a potential first time shot. Attitude to shoot, first touch, angles, support communication and accuracy/power rebounds. MORE