Games and Activities

Wearable Party Favors

You'll need:

• Colored undershirts (boys size large)
• Iron-on transfers and/or letters

For the party games, you will be dividing the guests into two teams, so it's a good idea to provide them with team shirts. Buy packages of T-shirts in two different colors. Decorate with iron-on transfers, one image for each team. You can also use iron-on letters to spell players’ names across the back of the shirts. At the end of the party, these team shirts become party favors.

Remember to have the kids warm up by stretching because they can hurt their muscles if they don't prep them, and that would not make for a happy birthday. Here are six soccer games to try:

Soccer Croquet

This game works especially well for younger kids. Buy or make (with half of a hula-hoop) wickets or plastic hoops that can be pushed into soil like mini goal posts in your backyard or on a field. Set up these wickets in two lanes, one for each team. Line each team up behind its lane and have the first two kids dribble and kick a soccer ball through each of the wickets. Victory goes to the team with the most race winners.

Traffic Cone Target

First, get the players to line up one behind the other. Next, set up a small plastic traffic cone a challenging distance away. Competing as individuals or as teams, each child kicks the ball in hopes of knocking over the cone. For an added surprise, hide a few soccer-themed giveaways under the cone like headbands, sweatbands, or socks.

Monkey in the Middle

All the party guests stand in a circle while one person stands alone in the center. (Start with the birthday child in the center.) Players try to pass the soccer ball to each other while the center player tries to intercept it. Upon successfully doing so, he or she joins the circle and the person who last kicked the ball moves to the middle.

Air Ball

Here's a game inspired by actual practice drills done by many professional teams. Everyone stands in a circle and tries to keep the ball in the air using only feet and heads. Those who let the ball hit the ground are eliminated. The last player standing is the winner.

Indoor Soccer/Volleyball

If the weather isn't cooperating, try this indoor fusion of soccer and volleyball. Stretch a rope or net across a large room. Divide the guests into two teams, with an even number of players on each side. Play a game of soccer/volleyball where kids can only move around the floor on their hands and feet (facing skyward). Players are only allowed to contact the ball with feet and heads.

The Left Foot Approach

Put a fun spin on all these games by making the kids perform some of the kicks with their left feet only. Being able to handle a ball with the left as well as right foot is a big advantage when they actually play the sport.