Are you the parent of a toddler or young child who loves football? Or maybe you’re just looking for a fun activity you and your little one can enjoy together? Either way, you’re in the right place! In this parent’s guide to football coaching, we’ll explain all you need to know about the world of kids football so that you have all the info before you sign your child up for football lessons.
What Is Children’s Football Coaching?
Children’s football coaching is a great way to introduce kids to the game from a young age. Quality football coaching sessions are tailored to the age and abilities of the children taking part so that each child can learn and enjoy their time on the pitch. This means that once they’re up and on their feet, kids can start enjoying football from any age.
Here at Kixx, we welcome children into our football academy from the age of eighteen months right through to eleven years of age, so it really is never too early (or late) for your child to give football a try!
What Do Children’s Football Lessons Involve?
If you’re a parent wondering what exactly a kids’ football training might involve, here are some of the things you can expect from a typical coaching session:
Learn & Master Basic Football Skills
As you might expect, during children’s football coaching, your child will develop an understanding of basic football skills, such as:
- Ball control.
- Moving around the pitch.
- Successfully passing the ball to a teammate.
- Defending skills like tackling, interceptions and blocking.
- Goalkeeping.
- And, of course, shooting (and scoring) goals!
They’ll have the opportunity to practice and hone these skills, building their confidence and abilities over time.
Teamwork
Children’s football coaching is also a fantastic opportunity for kids to engage in teamwork to achieve their goals, which is a fundamental skill for so many areas of life.
Stay Active
Just like adults, children need to do physical activity to stay fit and healthy. According to NHS guidelines, all children over the age of five should do at least one hour of exercise each day, and children under five need plenty of physical activity too.
This should include both aerobic exercise (that increases their heart rate) and strengthening exercises (to help build their muscles and support their growing bones). The good news is that children’s football coaching does both of these things!
Support and Encouragement
Children’s football coaching provides a supportive environment to help your child smash their goals, and we don’t just mean literally! Football encourages your child to set their own targets and work hard to reach them, whether that’s saving or scoring a goal, making a new friend or mastering a tricky skill.
A Community
And last, but certainly not least, children’s football coaching creates a friendly, like-minded community, introducing both you and your child to new friends and fellow parents in your local community.
What Skills Will My Child Learn With Children’s Football Coaching?
As you’ve already seen, football lessons are about way more than just learning football skills.
There’s so much more to be gained from children’s football coaching, including:
- Communication skills.
- Social skills, such as empathy, sharing and making friends.
- Teamwork.
- Self-discipline.
- Building resilience to help them cope with life’s challenges.
- Self-esteem and confidence.
- Helping and supporting others.
- General athletic skills, such as speed, agility and coordination.
- Celebrating their achievements and the achievements of others.
- Listening skills that can help at home and at school.
- An understanding of how their body feels and works.
- A positive relationship with exercise and physical activity.
How Can I Support My Child With Children’s Football Coaching
As a parent, there are lots of ways you can support your child during their football coaching sessions.
When it comes to toddlers and younger children, you’ll often be right there on the pitch with them, getting involved and encouraging them to join in with the activities. With older kids, you might be on the sidelines instead, cheering them on and offering your support.
You can also support your child by encouraging them to practice at home too. Don’t worry about creating complex drills or needing to be a football whizz yourself! Even a kick about in the back garden or at your local park gives your child the chance to apply the new skills they’ve been learning in their sessions and can be a great opportunity to have a laugh and enjoy each other’s company.
Children’s Football Coaching At Kixx
We hope you’ve found this parent’s guide to children’s football coaching helpful.
If your child is keen to try football and you want to give them a great start, Kixx Football Academy welcomes children of all ages and abilities. Plus, we pride ourselves on the strong relationships we build with parents and guardians, so when your child joins us, the whole family becomes part of the Kixx community too!
If you have more questions, check out our FAQ page for parents. Alternatively, don’t hesitate to get in touch for a friendly chat with one of the Kixx team. You can email us at admin@kixx.org.uk or give us a call on 01302 618080.
