What is Football?
Play a mini football skills session: learn passing, dribbling, and scoring using a soft ball, cones, and friends to explore teamwork and rules.
About this activity
Play a mini football skills session: learn passing, dribbling, and scoring using a soft ball, cones, and friends to explore teamwork and rules.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Find a flat safe space outside or in a large room and move any toys or breakable objects out of the way.
- 2
Step 2
Place two goals using the small goals or goal markers about ten big steps apart.
- 3
Step 3
Set up a dribbling course by arranging cones in a zigzag line about two big steps apart.
- 4
Step 4
Jog gently around the playing area once to warm up your legs.
- 5
Step 5
Stand 3 to 5 big steps from a friend and pass the ball back and forth ten times using the inside of your foot.
- 6
Step 6
Dribble the ball through the cone course five times using small controlled touches.
- 7
Step 7
Take five shots at the goal from a marked spot and try to aim to score each time.
- 8
Step 8
Play a short mini-game with your friends for about eight minutes and try to use passing and dribbling instead of just running with the ball.
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Step 9
Pause and agree with your friends on three simple rules for fair play like no pushing and take turns shooting.
- 10
Step 10
Walk slowly and stretch your legs for two minutes to cool down.
- 11
Step 11
Pick one skill you liked best and show it to an adult or friend so they can see your improvement.
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Step 12
Share your finished creation on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do I run a mini football skills session for kids?
To run a mini football skills session, start with a 5–10 minute warm-up (light jog and dynamic stretches). Set up cone grids for short passing and dribbling drills. Pair kids for quick passing exercises, run cone slalom dribbling, then finish with small-sided games to practice scoring and teamwork. Keep activities short (5–10 minutes each), rotate stations, explain simple rules, and give positive, specific feedback to build confidence.
What materials do I need for a kids' mini football session?
You’ll need a soft foam or lightweight football, 6–10 cones or marker discs, and small goals or hoops as targets. Bring bibs or colored bands to split teams, a pump, whistle, and a basic first-aid kit. Use a flat, safe surface like grass or a gym and have water available. Optional extras: spare balls, a clipboard for drills, and small prizes for encouragement.
What ages are suitable for a mini football skills session?
Suitable for children aged about 4–12 with adjustments. Ages 4–6 focus on chasing, basic ball control, and gentle passing; 7–9 work on structured passing, dribbling through cones, and simple shooting; 10–12 can handle tactical play and small-sided games. Match drill difficulty to ability, use smaller goals and softer balls for younger kids, and provide close adult supervision for the youngest players.
What are the benefits and safety tips for kids playing mini football?
Mini football boosts coordination, cardiovascular fitness, spatial awareness, and teamwork. For safety, use a soft ball, check the surface for hazards, require appropriate shoes, set clear boundaries and rules, and limit physical contact. Maintain adult supervision and schedule regular water breaks. For variety, try target-shooting challenges, obstacle-course dribbling, or themed mini-games to keep skills fun and engaging.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use instead of cones, small goals, or a football if we don't have them?
Use rolled socks or water bottles as cones for the zigzag dribbling course, backpacks or chairs as small goals about ten big steps apart, and a soft playground ball or balloon if you don't have a football.
My ball keeps getting away when we pass or dribble—how can we fix that?
For the passing step (stand 3–5 big steps) and the dribbling through cones, focus on softer inside-foot passes, smaller controlled touches, stand a bit closer, or use a slightly deflated ball to keep it from running away.
How should we change the activity for younger children or older kids?
For younger children reduce distances (use one big step between cones and place goals closer than ten steps), cut repetitions like fewer passes and dribble runs, and shorten the mini-game to 3–4 minutes, while older kids can increase cone spacing, add more shots, and extend the eight-minute mini-game.
How can we make the activity more challenging or personalize it to show on DIY.org?
To enhance the activity, time each dribble through the cone course, add an adult as goalkeeper for the five-shot practice, mark a colored tape 'marked spot' target to aim at when shooting, and record your favorite skill to share on DIY.org.