Is your little sports star ready for their first children’s football lesson? Are they eagerly waiting for their time to thrive? Any parent will tell you how much their child has flourished through participating in children’s football. Enrolling your child in a football academy for kids takes preparation. If you want to know how to prepare for your child’s first football lessons, this blog is for you!
In fact, we’ll say it’ll be one of the most fulfilling experiences they are involved in as a young athlete.
The beauty of football is that all you need is a ball and a bit of space for them to run into. They’ll soon be running around dreaming of being the next Harry Kane or Beth Mead. But for this blog, we’re concentrating on how to prepare for your child’s first football lesson.
What Is The Best Age To Start Football Training?
We wouldn’t say there is a specific age for your child to start football lessons or training. As a parent, it is your call when to introduce them to this beautiful game.
Put a football at the feet of an 18-month-old toddler, and the chances are they’ll kick it – it’s a human reaction. Once that first ball has been kicked, there’s often no turning back.
This leads us to the things we would recommend on how to prepare for your child’s first football lesson.
Buy Them A Football
The first thing we would encourage and prepare them for their first lesson is to buy them a football. Start with a small football, either size two or three, this will help them get used to it but also show whether they’re interested.
If you would like to check out our Kixx Shop to buy a branded Kixx football, please click here.
Once they have their own ball, you’ll find them happily kicking it around the home environment, learning the very basics of football and keeping active without even realising it.
If football isn’t fun, then they resist all attempts of getting them to play. That is what Kixx is all about, but to get them started, it starts with you and your environment for them at home.
Make It A Family Thing
Children are programmed to copy what others do; it’s part of the child development process and more so their family. Lead by example and your child will emulate you. Remember: kicking a football isn’t football. Most children will do that without any prompting. Get family and friends involved in a friendly game and your child will follow.
Create a mini pitch, either in your garden/yard or at your local park. Use a couple of cones or jumpers to define the boundaries and goals of your makeshift pitch and play!
Start kicking the ball around in a fun, friendly way. At this stage, make it clear that kicking the ball into a goal is a positive outcome. Give lots of praise at every opportunity — even if the ball doesn’t end in the net. When your toddler sees siblings, parents, and other relatives having fun, they’ll associate the activity with a positive experience. And that’s the start of their journey.
Watch Football Together
Once your child has realised how much fun kicking a ball around can be, you can begin to introduce them to the concept of football as a sport. Sit down and watch a game on television with them, explaining what is going on and answering any questions they might have. Talk about the different hairstyles, boots, and kits.
Even better would be taking them to a live game. This doesn’t have to be a Premier League clash, but your local Football League or even non-league side. That way they can experience the atmosphere and the magic which comes with competitive football.
Preparing Them For Their First Football Lesson
After you’ve naturally introduced them to football, the next stage is football lessons. But, how do you help them prepare?
We would recommend getting them excited for their first session and counting down to the first session with gentle reminders. I’m sure you’re all aware, but make sure they’re well energized with food/snacks a few hours before and have had plenty of water down to hydrate.
Routine is important and we like to emphasize that, create a special one with them so they’re prepared for every football lesson.
Kixx: Football Academy
Our football academies are centred on positively impacting a child’s life at every opportunity. We focus on physical and social development through the enjoyment and fulfilment of the world’s most popular sport, football.
Children’s football classes are intended to be fun, creative, age-appropriate, and high in energy.
Every Football Academy at Kixx is an opportunity for your children to make friends. Our football classes for kids have been carefully designed for both; boys and girls aged 18 months to 10 years.
At Kixx, our sessions are inclusive for every child and a key part is looking and feeling part of #TeamOrange from the moment you join us. When you have joined, we get the kit in the post straight away so your little one will look and feel part of Kixx straight away.
It’s really helpful to develop confidence as well as creating a positive football experience from the start.
Located throughout the United Kingdom, find your nearest academy or get in touch with us to learn more about how to prepare for your child’s first football lesson. You can call us on 01302 618080 or email us at admin@kixx.org.uk
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