Soccer, like many sports, is all about motion. As players dribble, pass, block shots, and score goals, they’re using the motion of their bodies to control the motion of the ball. And wherever you have moving objects, you have physics! The difference between tapping the perfect back-heel pass and driving home a penalty kick lies in understanding the forces at work on the ball: friction and momentum, angle and trajectory.
In these activities, learners become soccer scientists as they use tabletop models to explore how the physics of force and motion impact different aspects of the game, from ball control to equipment design! Activities are geared towards youth ages 6 – 10.
Explore the resources below:
Learners experiment with how different amounts and directions of force affect the motion of a ball. Using simple tools to simulate kicking, they will investigate speed, distance, control, and precision—just like real soccer players do on the field.
Resources:
Learners investigate how weather and field conditions affect the motion of a soccer ball. Using a miniature soccer field, teams will test how a ball moves on different surfaces and under changing “weather effects,” then strategize how to score goals even when conditions make it tough to play.
Resources:
Learners test their reaction times through a series of fast-paced challenges. They’ll explore how focus, visual cues, and surprise affect the speed at which they can move, just like soccer players in real games.
Resources:
Learners take on the role of sports engineers to test how traction works on the sole of a soccer cleat. Learners will design, build, and test their own prototype soccer cleat. They’ll explore how friction and traction affect movement and performance on different surfaces.
Resources:
Explore these additional resources to support the Science of Soccer program with your learners.
Resources:
Presented by
