Five Fun Soccer Variations To Play With Your Friends

April 9, 2024
By Zoe Manoukian

Playing soccer with your friends can be a fun after-school or weekend activity, but the number of players needed to play a proper game can be limiting. If you hope to play soccer with your friends but don’t have enough players, consider trying these five soccer variations of the game, which will allow you to work on your skillsets and drills while still having fun!

Soccer Golf

Like golf, this game’s objective is to get the ball in a designated hole in as few tries as possible. Place a cone, tee, or other marker at a chosen point in a field or a large yard to set up. This will serve as the “hole.”

Decide with your fellow socceristas where the kick-off spot should be, and place a visible object on that spot. Take turns “teeing off” by kicking your soccer ball as close to the hole as possible.

Once each ball comes to a complete stop, the player who kicked her ball closest to the hole may take a second turn. Each kick counts as one stroke. Continue taking turns until everyone has landed their ball in a spot that touches the hole. Whichever player has achieved this in the fewest kicks has won!

World Cup

For this game, form as many teams as you please. Teams can have as few as one player but can have as many players as desired. Each team should choose one country that they wish to represent.

One friend will stand in the goal and punt or throw a soccer ball to the middle of the field. Teams must compete to get the ball and score on the goalie. Once a team scores, they should stand to the side of the field and refrain from play until only one team is left. The team that hasn’t scored will be eliminated.

Play goes on in this way until one winning team is left standing. This game is a perfect alternative to a one-on-one soccer match and is especially fun to play during the World Cup! Which lucky team will get to represent the USWNT?

Head It, Catch It

This game is great for all positions as it will help improve your heading and catching skills. There is also a fun twist! This game is fit for two or more friends. One player is in charge of the ball and will toss it towards another player and either shout the instruction to “head it” or “catch it.” Players must actually do the opposite of what the caller says. If she says to head it, the receiving player actually must catch it, and if she says to catch it, the receiving player must head it.

Failing to do the opposite of the caller’s instruction is grounds for elimination. The caller will throw the ball down the line until only one soccerista is standing. This is perfect for practicing form and control and quick thinking, and the twist is sure to make for a silly and fun competition.

Around the World

This game is perfect for offensive players and keepers, though anyone can play! Line up several soccer balls in front of a goal. One girl should walk down the line of balls, kicking each one into the goal. Meanwhile, the other player should stand in the goal and try to prevent the offensive player from scoring. Then, switch positions. Whoever scores more goals wins!

This is a fun alternative to standard kicking drills and is sure to bring some entertaining competition to you and your friends.

Hacky Sack

Players who want to work on their juggling skills can replicate Hacky Sack using a soccer ball. If there are only two players, girls should stand across from each other. If there are more, players can stand in a circle. Take turns juggling the ball around the circle, or surprise a friend by passing the ball in their direction when she is not expecting it. Count how many touches you can make without letting the ball touch the ground!

Featured Image via Adobe Stock