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.
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.
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. So what are you waiting for? Get started today!
The highlighted PE activities in this blog article directly correlate with SHAPE America Standard 1 which states: The physically literate individual demonstrates competency in a variety of motor skills and movement patterns.*
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
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
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
Run around the ball 15 times
Jump side to side over the ball 12 times
Jump front and back over the ball 12 times
Perform 20 ball touches by alternating the bottom of your feet on the top of the ball
Tap the ball back and forth quickly using the inside part of your feet 30 times
Lay down and lift the ball up in the air (between your feet) 10 times. Keep your legs straight & squeeze the ball
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
Dribble the soccer ball over the top of the poly spot pathway and back to the start line
Keep your head up and look down the pathway
Try not to lose control of the ball as you dribble
Try changing the pathway and dribbling again. Create new and fun pathways in which to dribble through
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
Dribble the ball and weave through the cones
Stop at the kicking line
Pass it to the wall and trap it when it returns (3 times)
Try kicking it with both your left and right foot
Dribble it straight back to the next person in line
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
Wait in line for your turn and then receive a pass
Dribble the soccer ball to the center line and then pass it to the next player in line on the other side
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
Repeat going the other direction
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
Kick a soccer ball towards a set of pins from a good distance away
A partner removes the downed pins and rolls or walks the ball back to the shooter
If any pins are still standing after your first turn, take a second shot to try and knock them down
Trade roles with your partner
If there are more than 3 in the group, establish a kicking order
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
Overhand throw (with 2 hands- soccer style) a soccer ball at a ball sitting on the top of a cone
Try to knock the ball off the cone
A group member can retrieve the ball in between throws
Take 2 shots if needed and try it form different distances
Trade roles with your partneR
If there are more than 3 in the group, establish a throwing order
In summary
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.
Picture courtesy of Kelly Brown @LovePrimaryPE
Which of these stations do you plan to try in your class? What other soccer stations have you already implemented? Let me know in the comments below.
*SHAPE America. (2013). National Standards for K-12 Physical Education. Reston, VA: Author.
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!
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.
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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.
