The best football party games keep every child involved, run in short rounds and mix a bit of skill with a lot of silliness. Nobody should be stood in a queue for long, and the children who aren't big football fans should have just as much fun as the ones who play every weekend.
Below are 15 football party games for kids that work indoors: the five we run at every FSS Inflatable Party, and ten you can set up yourself at home, in the garden or in a hired hall.
Quick guide: which games suit your party?
| Game | Best for | Group size | You'll need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Football darts | Ages 6–12 | Any, taking turns | An inflatable football dartboard |
| Target goal | Ages 6–12 | Any, taking turns | An inflatable target goal |
| Inflatable pitch matches | Ages 6–12 | Small teams | An inflatable pitch |
| Speed gun challenge | Ages 7–12 | Any, taking turns | A speed gun |
| Mini tournament | Ages 6–12 | 4 or more teams | Goals, bibs and a referee |
| Freeze football | Ages 5–9 | Up to 20 | A ball each and music |
| Coach says | Ages 5–8 | Up to 20 | A ball each |
| Dribble obstacle dash | Ages 5–12 | Teams of 3–6 | Cones, hoops and balls |
| Football bowling | Ages 5–10 | Teams of 2–6 | Cones or plastic bottles and a ball |
| Goalie gauntlet | Ages 7–12 | 6–12 | A goal and lots of balls |
| Crossbar challenge | Ages 8–12 | Any, taking turns | A goal with a crossbar |
| Team colour chase | Ages 6–10 | Two teams | Bibs or coloured T-shirts and a ball |
| Human table football | Ages 8–12 | 10–20 | Cones to mark lanes, two goals |
| Balloon dribble race | Ages 5–9 | Teams of 3–6 | Balloons |
| Penalty shootout with forfeits | Ages 6–12 | Any | A goal and a ball |
The 5 games we run at every FSS party
At our parties the inflatables and the mini tournament run at the same time, with three coaches looking after the groups, so children move between games and nobody is left waiting around.
1. Football darts
Children kick a football at a giant inflatable dartboard and add up their scores. It's simple enough for children who rarely play football, and competitive enough for the ones who do. Keeping a running scoreboard turns it into a party-long competition.
2. Target goal
An inflatable goal with target holes to aim for. It rewards accuracy rather than power, so younger and older children can compete on level terms. Try "three shots each, best score wins" rounds.
3. Inflatable pitch matches
Short, fast games inside an enclosed inflatable pitch. The walls keep the ball in play, so there's far less chasing after stray balls and far more football. Small teams mean everyone gets plenty of touches.
4. Speed gun challenge
Who has the hardest shot? A speed gun measures how fast each shot is travelling. Children love seeing their number, and it's always a favourite with the adults watching too.
5. The mini tournament
Teams play short matches with a dedicated referee, and the winners get their own certificates at the end. Everyone gets a certificate for taking part, and the birthday child gets an FSS trophy or medal.
10 football party games you can run yourself
No inflatables? These work at home, in the garden or in a hall. Keep each game to 5–10 minutes and move on while children are still enjoying it.
6. Freeze football
Musical statues with a ball. Children dribble around while the music plays, and when it stops they freeze with their foot on the ball. Anyone still moving does a silly forfeit, like a goal celebration dance, instead of being out, so nobody sits on the sidelines.
7. Coach says
Simon says, football style. "Coach says touch the ball with your knee." "Coach says sit on the ball." If you give an instruction without "Coach says", anyone who does it gets a giggle-worthy forfeit. Great for the youngest guests.
8. Dribble obstacle dash
Set out a course of cones and hoops. Children dribble through it as fast as they can, then pass to the next player in their team. Make it harder for older children by adding tighter turns or a "weaker foot only" rule.
9. Football bowling
Set up cones or plastic bottles like bowling pins and knock them down by passing the ball from a line. Count the pins knocked over in two goes. It's calm, quick to set up and works brilliantly in small spaces.
10. Goalie gauntlet
One goalkeeper has 30 seconds to save as many shots as possible from a line of shooters. Swap the goalkeeper each round and keep a tally of saves. Use softer balls for younger children.
11. Crossbar challenge
Players take turns trying to hit the crossbar from a set distance. It's much harder than it looks, which makes it all the more exciting when someone finally does it.
12. Team colour chase
Split the children into two colours. When you shout a colour, only that team can pass the ball while the other team tries to win it back. Keep rounds short and switch often.
13. Human table football
Mark out lanes across the playing area and give each player a lane they can't leave, just like the rods on a table football game. It makes children pass and work together, and it's very funny to watch.
14. Balloon dribble race
Swap the footballs for balloons and race from one side to the other, dribbling the balloon with your feet. The balloons never go where you want them to, which is the whole point.
15. Penalty shootout with forfeits
Everyone takes a penalty. Score and you're through to the next round. Miss and you do a forfeit (ten star jumps, a robot dance, your best celebration) and get another go next round. Nobody is knocked out, and the birthday child takes the final penalty.
Tips for running football party games
- Keep games short. 5–10 minutes per game holds attention far better than one long match.
- Split into small groups. Running two or three games at once means less waiting. This is why we bring three coaches to every party.
- Mix the teams. Put confident players and quieter children together, and change teams between games.
- Have a calm option. Football bowling, football darts and the target goal are perfect for children who don't love running around.
- Finish on a high. End with a final, a penalty shootout or a presentation, and give everyone a certificate to take home.
- Plan the food break. Put it after the games, so the energy is used up before cake.
Questions parents ask
What football games can you play at a kids' party?
Short, simple games work best: freeze football, penalty shootouts, football bowling, dribble races and a mini tournament. With inflatables you can add football darts, a target goal and matches on an inflatable pitch.
How many games do you need for a football party?
For a 90-minute party, plan around 6–8 games of 5–10 minutes each, plus a mini tournament or penalty shootout to finish. Have one or two spare games ready in case something doesn't take off.
What if some children don't like football?
Choose games that don't need football skills, like football darts, football bowling, coach says or the balloon race. Mixed teams and forfeits instead of knock-outs also help everyone feel included.
What age are football party games best for?
The simple games above suit children from about 5. Our inflatable football parties are designed for ages 6–12.
Want us to run the games for you?
An FSS Inflatable Party gives you 90 minutes of non-stop football fun: three inflatables plus a speed gun, a mini tournament with a dedicated referee, three experienced coaches, certificates for everyone and an FSS trophy or medal for the birthday child, all for £220. We run parties across Bristol, Chippenham and Swindon, and we can help find and book the venue too.
See how booking works or check your date. For more ideas, read our indoor football party ideas for 5 and 6 year olds.
