Sideline Soccer

This game is played exactly like normal soccer but instead of having two large teams crammed together or two teams playing with two other teams sitting out, every student is involved. Half of a team will be playing “on the field” trying to score, while the other half of the team will ALL be goalies spread across the goal line. For this game you start by dividing your class into 4 “teams” and give 3 different colored jerseys to 3 of the teams while one team will not wear jerseys. Put two teams on one side and two teams on another side of the gym/field. (The two “teams” you pair together will be working together as one big team) Even though students are wearing different colored jerseys, two of the “teams” will be working together as one team against the other two “teams”. Ex. Blue & Yellow Jerseys VS Green & Shirts. To start the game, for example, you will have the Blue jerseys play goalies (standing by the line/goal) while Yellow would be on the field first trying to score. On the other side (opposing team) you would have Green jerseys playing on the field trying to score (on blue and yellow) while Shirts would ALL be goalies. If Yellow scored a goal, then that would be a point for the Yellow AND Blue team (since they are a team). If Green scored a goal against the shirts, then that would be a point for the Green AND Shirts team. When a goal is scored, rotate so that the half of the team (Blue, Yellow, Green, Shirts) that is playing goalies goes to the field, and those on the field go to their goals to ALL play goalie. Goalies are the only ones allowed to use hands in this game like a normal soccer game. VARIATIONS-Use more than one ball at a time, play “monkey soccer” style where players on field use their hands to strike ball, or “crab soccer” style with a larger and lightweight ball. Also, usually if a goal is not scored by either side in about 3-4 minutes, I usually have students switch. (Goalies to field, field to goalies) Enjoy!