Alien Tag Soccer Game
Attackers Defenders Neutral Goalkeeper Pass Run Dribble Shot
Alien Tag is a soccer game for the very youngest players, ideal for U5 and U6 groups and even toddlers just starting out. Aliens dribble soccer balls, which are officially space rocks, and try to hit flying spaceships, which are teammates steering pool noodles around Mars. Underneath the silliness, aliens practice dribbling and striking a moving target while spaceships build agility, vision, and awareness.
This drill pairs well with others in the dribbling category, and you can find age-matched sessions under U6 drills.
Setup
- Mark an area about 20×20 yards and announce that it is Mars.
- Choose two players to be the aliens and give each a ball.
- Every other player gets a pool noodle and becomes a spaceship; they hold both ends of the noodle to form the ship's nose.
- The coach keeps a few spare balls handy in case space rocks get launched out of orbit.
How It Works
- Spaceships fly around Mars, steering with their noodles and dodging the aliens.
- Aliens dribble their space rocks and try to kick them so they hit any part of a spaceship.
- A struck spaceship spins out of control and crashes dramatically to the ground.
- Crashed ships perform quick repairs, such as five jumping jacks, and rejoin the game.
- Keep rounds short and rotate new aliens in so everyone gets a turn with the ball.
Coaching Points
- Aliens must dribble the ball before shooting, so they get real touches while hunting ships.
- Spaceships should fly with heads up, scanning for incoming aliens.
- Keep everyone moving; a hovering spaceship is a crashed spaceship.
- Lean into the theme with crash noises, alien voices, and distress calls; the sillier, the better.
Variations
- Make struck spaceships become aliens; the last ship still flying is crowned the Jedi.
- Add a third alien for large groups so ships face more danger.
- Have the aliens pass to each other once before shooting to sneak in passing practice.