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Soccer Stations: Kick into Fun with 6 Soccer Activities for Elementary PE

Soccer is a great way to get students moving and can be tailored to accommodate all skill levels. Plus, it's a popular sport that many students are already familiar with and enjoy playing. There are several skills involved in soccer that can easily be utilized and taught in a PE unit. Ball control, dribbling, passing, trapping, shooting, heading, and goalkeeping are some of the most essential skills used in soccer.


6 Soccer Stations to Add Fun and Variety to Your Physical Education Class

A station format is an easy way to work with your students on their soccer skills during a soccer unit. Soccer stations are a valuable method to help students of different skill levels learn and succeed. This is important because all students come to class with different levels of soccer experience.

When you're dealing with a large group, it's difficult to give each child the attention they require, but you may use soccer stations to split the students up into smaller groups and distribute them around your learning area. This allows you to work on multiple skills at the same time within a class period. Stations also allow you to combine students with similar abilities into one group, and help you minimize equipment requirements.


10 Ways to use a Bean Bag: PE Equipment Visual Series

If you’re looking for some new and exciting physical education soccer stations to add variety to your class, look no further! In this blog post, we will discuss 6 different stations that are sure to keep your students engaged and active. Each station includes an overview, equipment, set-up information, and student instructions.


 

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The highlighted PE activities in this blog article are directly correlated to Shape America's Standard 1: Develops a variety of motor skills. The soccer activities you choose to implement during your PE lessons can easily meet any national, state, or district standards.


SHAPE America Standard 1 Visual

 

Setting up the PE soccer stations


  • Copy and laminate any soccer-themed station signs

  • Place the station cards around your school gymnasium with plenty of space between each station. You can use them for multiple class periods

  • Give the stations a numerical order and rotate the students every 2 to 6 minutes (depending on your time and the number of stations you intend to use in each lesson)

  • Make sure there's enough equipment at each station so that each student has what they require

6 Physical Education Soccer Stations to Add Fun and Variety to Your PE Class
  • Provide a brief instructional direction for each of the stations

  • Discuss the soccer-related skill that is being worked on at each station

  • As the kids participate in the activities, play music. During station rotations (transitions), hit pause

  • As they play, walk among the students and offer instructional or behavioral remarks as needed

  • Adapt the activity to your student's ability levels, equipment needs, and space limitations

  • Use young soccer players to help demonstrate the skills






 

Picture courtesy of Eve Alberti @prism1226


Indoor Soccer Stations


 

6 Fun and Engaging PE Soccer Stations


Check out the following six soccer stations that can easily be implemented into your physical education lesson plans.


 

1. Soccer Fitness/Ball Control

Overview

Students perform a variety of fitness-based movement activities using a soccer ball as the base for movement

Equipment

  • Enough soccer balls for each student at the station. If you don't have enough soccer balls for each student, have them work with partners or in small groups

Set-Up

  • Place the soccer balls in a bin or inside a hula hoop

Station Instruction

Students work in personal space to perform the movements listed below


  1. Run around the ball 15 times

  2. Jump side to side over the ball 12 times

  3. Jump front and back over the ball 12 times

  4. Perform 20 ball touches by alternating the bottom of your feet on the top of the ball

  5. Tap the ball back and forth quickly using the inside part of your feet 30 times, keeping the ball close to maintain control

  6. Lay down and lift the ball up in the air (between your feet) 10 times. Keep your legs straight & squeeze the ball

Soccer Fitness- Ball Control Visual

 

2. Pathway Dribble

Overview

Students practice dribbling a soccer ball over an obstacle course consisting of pre-set poly spots.


Equipment

  • Enough soccer balls for each course you set up

  • Several poly spots set in a curvy pathway course- Set up a few courses if you have the space


Set-Up

  • Place a ball at the start of each course

  • Students line up at the start of the poly spot pathway. Keep the lines as short as possible (2 to 4 in a line)

Station Instruction

Students work in partners or small groups or take turns dribbling down their dribbling pathway


  1. Dribble the soccer ball over the top of the poly spot pathway and back to the start line

  2. Keep your head up and look down the pathway

  3. Try not to lose control of the ball as you dribble

  4. Try changing the pathway and dribbling again. Create new and fun pathways in which to dribble through

Pathway Dribble Visual

 

3. Zig-Zag Dribble and Wall Pass

Overview

Students take turns weaving and dribbling a soccer ball through a set of cones and then passing and trapping it off the wall

Equipment

  • Enough soccer balls for each set of cones you set up

  • Several cones set in a straight-line course- Set up a few courses if you have the space

  • Gym wall

Set-Up

  • Place a ball at the start of each set of cones

  • Students line up at the start of the zig-zag dribble course. Keep the lines as short as possible (2 to 4 in a line)

Station Instruction

Students work in partners or small groups to take turns dribbling and passing off the wall


  1. Dribble the ball and weave through the cones

  2. Stop at the kicking line

  3. Pass it to the wall and trap it when it returns (3 times)

  4. Try kicking it with both your left and right foot

  5. Dribble it straight back to the next person in line

Zig-Zag Dribble and Wall Pass Visual

 


4. Shuttle Pass Relay


Overview

Students dribble a ball and then pass it across a court from the mid-line. On each side, they wait in line for their turn to cross back over


Equipment

  • Enough soccer balls for each small group of 3 or 4 students

  • 2 cones across the court/field from each other for each group

  • A center line

Set-Up

  • Place a ball at one of the cones for each group

  • Students line up with students at each cone, facing each other

Station Instruction

Students work in small groups to take turns dribbling to a center line and then passing it to the other side


  1. Wait in line for your turn and then receive a pass

  2. Dribble the soccer ball to the center line and then pass it to the next player in line on the other side

  3. Follow the ball and run to the end of the opposite sideline to wait for your next turn to receive a pass and dribble it back

  4. Repeat going the other direction

Shuttle Pass Relay Visual

 

5. Bowling Pin Kick- Knock Down


Overview

Students take turns shooting a soccer ball from set distances with the aim of knocking down a set of bowling pins, taking 1 or 2 shots.


Equipment

  • Enough soccer balls for each small group of 2 or 3 students

  • 5 to 10 bowling pins for each group. Less if you have limited equipment

Set-Up

  • Place a ball at one of the poly spots for each group

  • Students take turns kicking at the set of pins and removing any that are knocked down

Station Instruction

Students work in partners or small groups taking turns kicking at a set of bowling pins


  1. Kick a soccer ball towards a set of pins from a good distance away

  2. A partner removes the downed pins and rolls or walks the ball back to the shooter

  3. If any pins are still standing after your first turn, take a second shot to try and knock them down

  4. Trade roles with your partner

  5. If there are more than 3 in the group, establish a kicking order

Bowling Pin Kick- Knock Down Visual

 

6. Throw in - Knock it Off


Overview

Students take turns throwing a soccer ball (soccer style) with the aim of knocking a ball off a large cone from two designated distances


Equipment

  • Enough soccer balls for each small group of 2 or 3 students

  • A large cone and a ball to sit on top for each small group


Set-Up

  • Place a ball at one of the poly spots or throw in lines for each group

  • Students take turns throwing at the ball on the cone and rolling the ball back to the thrower

Station Instruction

Students “throw in” the soccer ball and try to knock the big ball off the cone


  1. Overhand throw (with 2 hands- soccer style) a soccer ball at a ball sitting on the top of a cone

  2. Try to knock the ball off the cone

  3. A group member can retrieve the ball in between throws

  4. Take 2 shots if needed and try it form different distances

  5. Trade roles with your partneR

  6. If there are more than 3 in the group, establish a throwing order

Throw in - Knock it Off Visual

 

Final Thoughts


Incorporating soccer stations into your physical education class is a great way to keep your students both active and engaged. Not only will they enjoy the movement, but they'll also learn the skills you're teaching them and meet the required PE standards. The 6 stations highlighted above are designed to help students improve their skills in a specific area of soccer, while also having fun. They can help you make the most of your space and equipment restrictions as a PE teacher, as well as keep everyone on task. No matter the skill level or developmental stage of your students, you can optimize the soccer stations to benefit them. These soccer stations can be particularly engaging for students, especially in the weeks leading up to major events like the World Cup.


6 Physical Education Soccer Stations to Add Fun and Variety to Your PE Class

Picture courtesy of Kelly Brown @LovePrimaryPE


 

Need resources?

Do you need some sport-related skill stations for your physical education program that includes detailed instructions and state-of-the-art graphics and visuals? Cap'n Pete's Power PE has you covered!


20 FREE Sport-Specific PE Station Signs on capnpetespowerpe.com

Fill in the form below to download 20 FREE Sport-Specific PE Station Signs. The set is a PDF digital download that includes two visuals (cards/signs) from the following sport stations sets: 1. Base Games, 2. Basketball, 3. Floor Hockey, 4. Football, 5. Lacrosse, 6. Paddle & Racket Sports, 7. Soccer, 8. Team Handball Stations, 9. Track & Field and 10. Volleyball Stations.



This freebie set will be sure to enhance your PE curriculum for years!


 

If you want even more soccer station ideas...my PE Soccer Stations- 20 Kick Around Zones resource can be downloaded here on Teachers Pay Teachers.


If you're searching for a way to really spice up your PE program, Cap'n Pete's PE Sports Stations- 10 Product Mega Bundle is the perfect supplement. You'll find over 200 fun-filled, sports-themed station signs/cards (20 stations per sport) in this set. You may utilize them in your gym or specialized learning area.


 Cap'n Pete's PE Sports Stations- 10 Product Mega Bundle

You can download them from either of the following platforms: Cap'n Pete's Power PE Website or Teachers Pay Teachers- Cap'n Pete's TPT Store


This comprehensive collection will help you teach your students important physical education concepts and skills from 10 different traditional sports including basketball, base games, football, floor hockey, lacrosse, paddle/racket sports, soccer, track & field, team handball, and volleyball.


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