Kicking Games for Kids

Elbows and Kicks

• Play this competitive kicking game by first dividing the players into two teams. Position the teams to either side of the yard. Place a kicking ball in the middle of the yard. Hand each player on either team a number from 1 to the amount of players on the team. Both teams should have the same numbers. To start, call out two of the numbers you gave the teams. The teammates who have those two numbers come together and stand back to back. They lock elbows and then race to the ball in the middle. The team whose players kick the ball first gains a point. Continue this for 10 rounds or more. The team with the most points wins the game (See Reference 1).

Kick Ball

• A classic game for people who fear baseballs: start by creating a kickball field out of your yard. You want to make it just like a baseball diamond, with four bases situated in a diamond shape. Divide the players into two teams. Choose one team to kick first and the other team to stand at the bases. The pitcher stands in the middle of the diamond and throws a big bouncy ball or soccer ball toward the kicker situated at home base. Once the ball is in reach, the kicker kicks the ball as hard as he can. The players on the opposite team have to get the player out by either catching the ball before it hits the ground or tagging the base or the kicker. The kicker meanwhile tries to make it back to home base before this happens, to gain a point. Once all of the players on the first team have kicked, the teams trade places. Once this switch has happened twice, the team with the most points wins the game.

Soccer Star Challenge

• To see who among the kids has the best kick, play this game. Start by hanging a hula hoop or tire swing from a tree. Gather the players in a single-file line about five feet away from the hoop to start out. Place a ball in front of the first player and have him try to kick the ball through the hoop. If successful, that player moves to the back of the line. If not, he gets eliminated and leaves the line. The rest of the players have their turns. Once everyone has had a chance to kick the ball at the five feet mark, move the line back from the hoop another two feet. Do this after every round until only one player, the winner, remains in the line, thus becoming the soccer star (See Reference 2).