I am putting together a soccer camp for kids between the ages of 4 and 10. I have some ideas of games and drills to do with them but i need some more. They have to keep them busy and having fun but we only have 20 min at each of the stations so they can’t be longer than that. Thanks for your help!!!
I am running a soccer clinic as well. It is easier with the older kids, but with the younger kids you need to mix it up before they lose their focus.
The first two days of my clinic I taught them simple skills (passing, dribbling, shooting) and now I am starting to play some fun games that involve those skills. Here are a few that I found online:
Numbers
The exercise is good for 1 vs 1 dribbling skills. It is especially good on a hot day as the kids defending can rest a bit. Divide the kids into 2 groups. If you have ten kids, say, assign each kid a number between one and five. So each team has a number one, a number two, etc. Try to make sure the kids with the same number are evenly matched. Set up two very wide “goals” with pylons. Spread the five kids on each side across each goal line. Call out one or more numbers, and those kids come out to play 1 vs 1, 2 vs 2, etc. and the rest of the kids stay spread across the goal line as defenders. Throw a ball from the sideline into the centre and let them play it until a goal is scored, the defenders stop it, or it goes out of bounds.
Variation: Colours. Use two each of different coloured pinnies, armbands, or stickers to place on shirts, as younger kids will have trouble remembering numbers.
Monkey in the Middle
All players form a circle and choose someone (the “Monkey”) to be in its center. The players forming the circle pass one ball among them while the person in the center tries to gain control of the ball. When this happens, the person in the circle who last touched the ball goes to the center. Some level of competitiveness develops but never on an individual basis and the “losers” quickly gets a chance to redeem themselves.
Ice Monster
Mark off an area for the game to be played and select one kid to be the “Monster”. Have the rest of the kids (each with a ball) dribble around within the area. The “Ice Monster” attempts to touch each player’s ball, at which point that player “freezes” with their foot on the ball. If a player’s ball goes out of bounds, they also freeze. The last remaining unfrozen player gets to be the new Ice Monster for the next round.
Cops and Robbers
Have the kids (each with a ball) line up on one side of the field. These guys are the “Robbers”. Have two more kids (the Cops) facing the Robbers somewhere near halfway to the other side. The object is for the Robbers to dribble to the other side without having a Cop tackle the ball away. If a robber loses his ball to a cop, he goes to jail (designate a small area off to the side or use a Goal structure.) Have the Robbers repeat the crossings until there are only 2 left. Make these guys the new cops, pull everyone out of jail and start over.
Pirate (or Monster)
A keepaway game. Coaching points: concentrate on the player’s close dribbling and screening techniques. Everybody inside a circle (center circle is fine) with a ball. One player without a ball is the Pirate. Everybody starts dribbling around. The Pirate player tries to steal a ball from any player and pass it out of the circle – now, the two players are Pirates and go after the others…..then three, then four. Finally only one player is left with a ball. He/she becomes the Pirate the next game.
Variation: Bomber. Just like above except the “IT” player has a ball and tries to roll/throw it at the other player’s and knock their ball out of the circle.
Kick out
Everyone dribbles and shields their ball within a circle while trying to kick everyone else’s ball out, and simultaneously to protect their own. You can’t kick someone else’s ball out if your ball isn’t in the circle. If your ball goes out you have to leave the circle it gets down to two kids in a duel. The coach may participate to keep the game from becoming to competitive, as the ones eliminated early may feel bad.
Give and go
This one is good for getting the kids to move after they make a pass. It is appropriate for kids a little older, who pass the ball but like to stop and really admire their better passes. Everyone spaces themselves around the center circle. Give the ball to one person and they call out someone’s name and pass to them. They then run to the receiver’s position in the circle. The receiver upon hearing their name called steps forward to receive the pass and yells “I got it!” The sequence is then repeated. Several things are accomplished besides getting them used to movement. The “I got it!” yell addresses the problem of nobody playing the ball in a game because they thought the other was going to play it. We all learn each other’s names quickly.
Invariably, someone is always left out so start a countdown from 10 to 0 and they have to figure out who has been left out (the left out person should be quiet). They start yelling among themselves to figure out who it is and this fosters communication on the field. (It’s pretty humorous too).
After a few practices, they get it down so they look pretty sharp. Then you toss in another ball. They love it! Now they have to think a bit because people are moving and two are busy with the other ball.
Egg Hunt
Have more balls than players. Have the players line-up across one end of the field. Take their balls and spread them out around the field, these are the eggs. At the other end of the field is a goal called the “basket”. Blow the whistle and turn them loose. The object of the game is to get all the “eggs” in the basket as quickly as possible. They are all on the same team, and aren’t allowed to take a ball away from another player. Time them to see how fast they can accomplish the task.
The kids really like this game. The more balls (eggs) the better. You should see them score, and turn right around and go back for more balls.
Marbles
Split your team into two groups and line them up behind two opposing lines. Each player should have a ball. Place an unusual color (or size) ball in the middle. This is the marble (a #2 ball works well). Have them try to move the marble across the other team’s line by striking it with a ball. After the game starts, don’t require them to use their own ball, they are free to use any other ball they can find.
At first the players may get really excited and kick the marble. If this happens, call time-out and put it back.
Variation: eliminate the teams and play it in a circle. The game is over when the ball exits the circle.
Teach the parents
During the last practice of the season have a scrimmage between the parents and the players (with the coaches helping the players). This serves a couple of purposes. The kids love this game. They get a chance to show their parents what they can do and they enjoy beating their parents. (The parents never win, the coaches make sure of that….) Also, since many of the parents have never played soccer it shows them how difficult the game really is. The hope is that a parent may now think twice before “yelling” at a child for missing and “easy” shot in a game. Everybody seems to enjoy this scrimmage.
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Training Technically In A Tactical Environment. 
A nice video of ball mastering and dribbling drills.
