The sport of soccer is simulated with the aid of a representative playing field, a game ball, representative general athletes and representative goalkeepers. The general athletes are constructed from a resilient material such as cardboard, plastic, or sheet metal and are characterized by a concave-down shape defined by a leading member and a trailing member that are resiliently connected. In play, a general athlete is placed adjacent to the game ball such that its leading member abuts the ball. The player makes the athlete kick the game ball by striking a downward blow to the resilient connection, thereby propelling the leading and trailing members outwards and upwards and driving the abutted ball forwards. A goalkeeper is constructed much like the general athlete except that it bears a first magnet. The player uses a second magnet on a control rod to drag the goalkeeper around the playing field by the first magnet.