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Young child kicks a ball.
Session

Play Phase session: stadium game

Are you seeking a fun activity for 4-6 year olds? Consider giving stadium game a go. It's simple to set up, and you don't need much equipment.

This session will help players:     

  • become comfortable with a football at a young age  
  • improve their ability to work in a team
  • begin to develop an understanding of directional play. 

If you like this idea, download the session cards and give it a go. And don’t forget to share your experience on the England Football Community. We’d love to know how you got on.

Stadium game is an 'open loop game'. This means it’s a non-stop game that ends when you want it to.  

It’s all about repeating the same task. Teams can have the same task and compete against each other, or they can do the opposite, like attack vs defence.  

It is simple to set up. You only need a group of players, some balls for each team and brightly coloured cones to mark out an area.  

 

Divide the children up into two teams in a playing area. Each group stands in one half. Share footballs (the more, the better) equally between the two groups.  

When you shout "GO", each side kicks their footballs into the other half. Each team does the same by sending footballs back into the other half.  

Whichever team has fewer footballs in their half at the end of the game wins. The game can finish after a set time or when the players get tired.

Divide the children into two teams. Each group stands in their own half. Share an equal number of balls in each half. The aim is for each side to kick their footballs into the other half. Whichever team has fewer footballs in their half at the end of the game wins.
Divide the children into two teams. Each group stands in their own half. Share an equal number of balls in each half. The aim is for each side to kick their footballs into the other half. Whichever team has fewer footballs in their half at the end of the game wins.

Coaching activity

Watch this video to see the activity in action.

More ideas for the game   

Making it even more fun 

Change the challenge to throwing or dribbling footballs across the halfway line. 

Imaginative play   

Create a story about what the footballs represent or why they need to be kept out.  

Object play  

Introduce targets to add direction, like having hoops in each half.  

Social play  

Increase competition by letting children play as their favourite team or players.  

Physical play    

Match players in pairs. Each takes the ball into their opponent's half while their opponent is trying to stop them. Then swap around.  

Remember to give it a football focus. Add goals or targets. If you don't have goals, use lots of cones so there is plenty to aim at.  

Want to get more from the game? Use our idea generator to increase the returns for your players.