Sportsmanship Bingo Small-Sided Soccer
Small-sided 3-on-3 soccer games where two sideline observers fill in a bingo card of sportsmanship actions, and each team's goal is to help fill the card. Students work on dribbling, passing, and shooting while learning to recognize and practice fair play.
How to play
- Set up three fields about 22 × 13 yards with 3-yard cone goals and make six teams of 4; one player per team observes from the sideline with a checklist and pencil.
- The checklist is a 3 × 3 bingo card with nine actions: greet the opponent, help someone up, admit your own out-of-bounds, apologize after a bump, cheer on a teammate, compliment an opponent's goal, pass to whoever has touched the ball least, accept a call without arguing, and say thank you at the end.
- Play 5-minute games with no set goalie or referee: the fouled player makes the call. Each observer marks the actions they see from their team.
- If a card gets a line, the observer shouts "Line!" and their team earns 1 bonus point; a full card earns 3.
- After each game a new player observes and teams rotate opponents. Play 4 games.
- Wrap-up (3 min): Which action was hardest to spot? Does the game get better with more sportsmanship?
Rules
- No slide tackles or tackling from behind; defend on your feet.
- Keep the ball below waist height.
- The fouled player makes the call and everyone accepts it.
Variations
Easier
Use a card with six actions and wider goals.
Standard
3-on-3 soccer with a nine-action bingo card and self-officiating.
Harder
Bingo only counts if a different teammate performs each action.
Adaptations
- A student with limited mobility can be a permanent observer and play goalie in a narrower goal when on the field.
- For students who struggle with reading, add a picture of each action to the card.
- For more skilled students, goals only count after at least three passes.
Learning goals
- Dribble, pass, and shoot in game situations.
- Identify specific fair play actions.
- Self-officiate the game while respecting everyone.
Equipment for a class of 25
- soccer balls: 3
- pinnies: 12
- cones: 24
- observation checklists: 24
- pencils: 6
Teacher tip
Explain each action on the card with an example before you start. If a team fakes actions just to score, ask the group whether that is really sportsmanship.
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