What Your 2 Year Old Will Gain From Socatots Classes
At two years old, children are walking, talking, and ready to start building the physical and social foundations that will shape their early years. Our classes develop skills across three areas:
| Development Area | Key Skills Enhanced |
|---|---|
| Physical/Motor Skills | Balance, Coordination, Movement, Speed |
| Cognitive Skills | Numeracy, Speech, Pattern Recognition, Listening |
| Social-Emotional Skills | Teamwork, Communication, Confidence, Self-Esteem |
These aren’t just football skills, they are skills that will get them ready for school and life as a whole. Children leave each session having practised sitting, listening, following instructions, and working alongside others. Whether your child has dreams of being the next Mo Salah or Mary Earps, or simply loves to move and play, the benefits of our classes will extend well beyond the pitch.
The Benefits of Football for 2 Year Olds
The main benefit of football for a 2 year old is that it gives a busy, energetic toddler a positive outlet for all that energy at an age where they start to master real, recognisable skills for the first time. Two year olds have boundless energy and big emotions to match, and an active, structured session gives them somewhere to put it. Moving through the shape of a class gives them gentle practice at winding up and settling down again, an early and valuable step in learning to manage their own energy and feelings.
Two is also the age football begins to look like football. With steadier balance and far more control than a year before, your child can start to genuinely kick and stop a ball rather than simply chase after it. Being able to do something gives a two year old a real sense of achievement. Mastering a skill they can see and feel themselves getting better at is one of the most rewarding experiences at this age.
It also feeds the drive every two year old has to do things for themselves. Football offers small, achievable goals, such as reach the ball, stop it, send it back, that your child can accomplish largely under their own steam, with you alongside for encouragement rather than doing it for them. That growing feeling of “I can do this myself” is exactly what toddlers are reaching for at two, and a class gives it to them in a safe, low-pressure setting where every attempt is a win.
How Classes Are Structured for 2 Year Olds
At age two, your child will be in Phase 2 of our programme. In this phase, the focus is on learning the basics of football, including passing and dribbling. We will also begin to work with your child to identify colours and numbers. This will be done through the use of coloured domes and skittles. These types of cognitive skills are enhanced through sport and research has shown that high fit children have better cognitive function:
“Another consistent finding from the literature is that young people who have greater cardiorespiratory fitness display superior cognition when compared to children who have lower fitness…This is a really important finding because it suggests that opportunities for young people to regularly complete physical activity (which we know will increase fitness) are really important and should be provided to all young people.”
– Dr. Simon Cooper, Nottingham Trent University, Youth Sport Trust
From the physical development side of things, your child will focus on two of the six parts of the foot each week, for example inside and soles, and all of the activities will revolve around using those two parts. In this example, the session would include activities that help your child to learn how to keep the ball under control and they will begin to work on kicking, dribbling and shooting.
This will all be done with your help and guidance as parents/caregivers play a crucial role in our classes. This active involvement builds your child’s confidence and self-esteem while deepening the bond between you. This is a combination that supports children through every new experience ahead, from starting nursery to making their first friends.
Children who have been with Socatots since 6 months old arrive at this stage with solid foundational skills already in place. For those joining at 2, coaches will assess each child individually and build from where they are. There is no assumption that every child starts from the same point.
What Your 2 Year Old Will Be Doing in Each Class
The sessions are structured to always allow free play for the first five minutes. This helps them to settle into the new environment. Then the session begins with short introductions, saying hello and learning everyone’s names. Next, we do our warm ups which include stretches and using bean bags.
The middle part of the session is the technical section which consists of the dome, the skittles and the ball. The amount of activities that your child will do with the ball increases as they go up the phases. We then move on to a variable element which changes each week. It could be throwing and catching, some balance work or a game, with or without the ball.
Next, we do our cool down, using more bean bags, dice and a parachute, which helps to settle the children down before they leave. The session ends with your child getting a sticker, we do a debrief and then say goodbye.
Who Runs the Football Classes fow 2 year olds
All Socatots sessions are delivered by FDS UK qualified coaches – either the franchisee or coaches trained by FDS UK Leadership. Every coach holds:
- DBS qualified
- UKCFDS qualified
- First Aid trained
- Insured
Building Foundations That Last
Parents consistently tell us their children stand out in PE lessons and on football teams and that they are ahead of where teachers expect them to be. Starting at 2 years old gives children an early advantage as they have more time to build physical literacy, social confidence, and the kind of self-belief that carries them into school and beyond.
The goal isn’t just to develop young footballers. It’s to give every child the best possible start in every area of their life.
“Exercise in childhood is linked to better long-term health… Those who take part in youth sports have been shown to have a lower body mass index (BMI), smaller waist circumference and better mental health as well as better educational achievements and cognitive performance.”
– Why moving about is key for children’s health – and happiness, BBC
Football Classes for 2 Year Olds FAQs
Get answers to some frequently asked questions for 2 year olds
How long are the football classes for 2 year olds?
Our classes for 2 year olds are 40 minutes long.
Which football class is best for my 2 year old?
We break our age groups down into phases and, at 2 years old, your child will be in Phase 2 – Improving Balance.
Who is running the classes?
The classes have to be run by FDS UK qualified coaches. This could be the franchisee or coaches trained by FDS UK Leadership.
Can girls attend classes?
Yes, of course! Some franchisees run girls only classes.
How do parents actively participate in SOCATOTS?
Parents act as individual coaches to the children, encouraging them, demonstrating to them and helping them how to take part in our unique activities and games (under the guidance of a qualified coach.)
What kind of equipment is used in the classes?
These classes use a variety of age appropriate props to help children develop. These include domes, dice and hoops as well as our specially designed Socatots footballs and nursery rhymes.
Can siblings take part in classes?
We recommend that franchisees have a sibling policy that encourages sibling participation, but only within the relevant age groups and with one guardian/carer per child.
Can I pay by cash?
No, the only way we accept payment from customers is via the booking system.
Am I tied into SOCATOTS classes for a certain period?
Cancellations are actioned on the customer portal. Once the cancellation button has been clicked by you, the customer, one final payment will be required to be taken before the account is closed.
Is the monthly payment for 4 sessions a month / 1 session per week?
The monthly payment guarantees you and your child a place in the class chosen for twelve months worth of classes, some months have more than others but it all equals out over a 12 month period. Within a 12 month period we offer 41 classes, and this is what customers are paying for.
Do I have to buy the SOCATOTS kit?
Yes, this is a mandatory purchase, we like everyone to look the same in their kit. It’s a feeling of belonging to a team and the children look great! It’s potentially a one off purchase, and we suggest buying the size one up so that the kit can last longer. Some children only go through two kits their whole time with us at Socatots. You have 4 weeks to purchase the kit, otherwise your space will be given to someone else.
Can I make up for missed sessions if I am away?
Yes, providing there is space on the alternative session you would like to attend. Discuss with your coach which sessions have spaces free and you can double up or change for that particular week. We do not offer refunds for missed sessions.
Where is my nearest class?
We have over 90 classes in the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands. Head here to find your local class.
Book a FREE football class for your 2 year old now
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