Football is a great sport for children as it is a lot of fun but is also highly beneficial for your child. But, at what age can kids start football training? Here, we will guide you through what age your child can start football.
Getting your kid involved in any type of physical activity from a young age is important. Research has shown that regular physical activity can boost our self-esteem, mood and sleep quality, making us less prone to stress, depression and reduce the risk of major illnesses.
But, in modern life, we – children and adults alike – have become a little more stationary when it comes to our hobbies. Parents have more worries about children when they are outside alone and there are many more enticing screens inside to keep children happy and entertained. This may seem like the safer option sometimes but our increasing use and reliance on technology is leading to us being less active. This is not good for any of us particularly as research indicates that inactive children are more likely to become inactive adults, putting young people at risk of developing life-threatening conditions such as heart disease and cancer. This is why it’s important to encourage your children to get involved in physical activity and exercise from a young age.
Within this article, we will guide you through how to get your child enjoying physical activity from a young age, how football might be the perfect fit and answer the question “What age can kids start football training?”
Let’s get started!
How To Get Your Kid Enjoying Physical Activity
Getting your kids to enjoy physical activity can be quite simple if they are still quite young because you can simply start taking them to sports classes. In these classes, they will learn skills, get some exercise and, most importantly, have fun. But, there are still some things you should consider when getting your kids in the habit of doing and enjoying physical activity.
Try Out Different Classes
Quite often one of the easiest ways to find the right sport for your kid is to let them try out a variety of sports. Many sports clubs and organisations offer introductory classes and trial sessions. At Socatots, we offer free taster sessions so you can see if your child enjoys football and our classes.
Listen To Your Child
Once your child has attended a taster session or introductory classes for different sports, listen to their feedback. Ask them if they enjoyed the class and participating in the sport. Listen to what they say because they need to enjoy and be interested in the sport to get the most out of it.
Consider Their Age And Ability
The age of your toddler and their physical abilities are important factors to consider when looking for the right sport for your child. Some sports may be more suitable for younger children, while others require more advanced motor skills.
For example, activities like swimming, gymnastics, and basic ball sports are great for toddlers and younger children, while contact sports or complex team games may be better suited for older children who have developed their physical abilities. This is why at Socatots we break down our football classes into phases based upon a child’s age.
Look At Local Sports Clubs
Look at all the sports programs and clubs available in your local area. Different areas will have a variety of sports organisations and facilities. Research the sports leagues, clubs, and academies that offer coaching and training in your child’s area of interest. Consider factors like proximity, schedules, and the reputation of the organisations. Using a local sports club will make it easier for both you and your child to attend classes consistently.
At Socatots, we have classes across the UK, as well as in Ireland and the Channel Islands.
Is Football The Perfect Solution?
Football is a great sport for getting your kid interested and excited about sport and physical activity.
It is a highly accessible sport that does not require huge amounts of equipment. You can let your kids give it a try in your back garden or at your local park, before they go to any taster sessions.
There are many benefits to football as it will help your child to develop their motor skills, cognitive skills and social skills. It will be excellent for them physically but it will also encourage teamwork, discipline and help them to learn to be a good sport.
Football is a highly liked sport in the UK so, if your kid does enjoy it, there are many classes for them to go to around the country, including ours at Socatots.
What Age Can Kids Start Football Training?
This brings us nicely to the main question of today’s article – What age can kids start football training?
We recommend that you start your child with football as early as possible. Of course, as a baby, they won’t be able to kick the ball or do any major football skills but you can introduce the concept of football to them. For example, when they are in their baby you could throw them a tiny ball that they could engage with and roll back to you.
Our football training starts at 6 months because we know how beneficial football is to young children. Our classes for 6 months old are 30 minutes long, to cater to the shorter attention span of babies and young children. Within the classes, your child will learn:
- Fundamental movement
- Using one part of the foot at a time
- Encouraging/helping the children to crawl and move.
- Starting using both sides of the body
- Building coordination and movement patterns
- Developing their sense of balance
- Exploring equipment and new objects
- Domes, which involves parent assisted balancing
- Parents are physically “handling” them to create the movement
They will learn all of this whilst having lots of fun, meeting and making new friends and bonding with you, their parents, over their successes and overcoming any challenges.
Getting Your Kids To Football Training
Encouraging your children to join in with some form of physical activity or sport from a young age is really important. Being active in childhood is more likely to lead you to being an active adult which will lead you to a healthier, happier life.
It is a really good idea to take your child to a variety of different classes so you can see what they truly enjoy. Football is a really great solution as it is a highly accessible sport that you can try out with your kids from a young age, at home and in your garden or local park.
This does make people wonder – What age can kids start football training?
We believe that it is a really good idea to introduce your kids to football as young as possible and with our classes you can do just that. Children can attend our football training from as young as 6 months old. Attending the classes will help them to develop their motor skills, their cognitive skills and their social skills. It holds many benefits alongside getting them enjoying and excited about sport and physical activity.
We hope you have found our article helpful. If you would like to know more about our football training, please click here.