At Kixx, we get so many parents and guardians asking us a very similar question “My child has never kicked a ball! Can they still join a football academy?” The simple answer is absolutely yes! With footballing legends like Peter Crouch not attending a football lesson until he was 9 years old, there really is no age that is considered ‘too late’ to join a football academy – in fact, it’s never too late to get involved and build a love for a sport and to learn new skills!
In a nutshell, the answer to our question is pretty clear, no it isn’t too late to join a football academy. If your child is keen to get scouted by national league clubs, there are kids across the country who get scouted as toddlers, all the way up to being 22 years old! Even if becoming a professional footballing star isn’t important to your child- at Kixx, we welcome children who may have never kicked a ball before! At our football academy, we focus on each child’s journey, ensuring football is enjoyed alongside other children, all of different abilities.
If anything, it is less about the age that your child starts to play and more about their dedication and the effort they put into the lessons. At the heart of #TeamOrange is fun! Our football lessons are tailored to each age group and are focused around, fun, creativity and experimenting with football skills – which means there really is no right time to start having fun!
There really is no age barrier to enter the footballing world, whether it be playing with a ball in the street with your friends, or hoping to get scouted for the Premier League, football has no limits – which is what we love so much about it. It is a sport that is inclusive and accessible to all ages and abilities.
Football Lessons For Older Kids
There are so many opportunities for older kids to get involved in a football academy.
At Kixx, we have football lessons for children up to the age of 10 which we believe is a vital age for both psychical and social development. We know development is key for older children, especially with how rapidly they grow!
Our football lessons for older kids will further share the importance of an active lifestyle, nurturing their wellbeing and riving day to day motivation alongside their school work, which we know gets a little tougher as they age.
The importance of communication skills, making friends and further stimulating skills doesn’t stop at any age! Our football lessons for 10 year olds continue to work on children developing friendships, working as a team as well as developing the fundamental movement and ball skills.
When Joao Felix was eighteen years old, Atletico Madrid signed him for €126 million, making him the most expensive teenager ever. This no doubt spurred many older children to take part in football lessons, whether they have ever kicked a football or not.
The main element of football lessons at Kixx, especially for older children is the skills within the game, how to dribble, scoring tactics and how to work as a team – so it really is no issue if your child has never kicked a football before.
No matter your age, here are some top tips for when you are joining your football academy:
- Be yourself
- Work hard
- Remember – there is no “I” in “Team”.
- Practice makes perfect
- Watch as well as play!
Football Legends That Started “Late”
Sure, becoming a footballing sensation might not be at the forefront of every child’s mind. But for those kids who aim to make football their career, there are a bunch of players who started their career later than others, and have gone to achieve great success! Let’s explore some well known footballers who started their professional careers at a later age!
Jamie Vardy is one of the most famous examples of a footballer who started late. He began his football career at the age of 16, but it wasn’t until he was 25 that he signed for a professional club, Fleetwood Town. From there, he worked his way up the ranks, eventually earning a transfer to Leicester City. In the 2015-16 season, he was the Premier League’s top scorer, helping Leicester City win their first-ever league title.
Ian Wright is another player who didn’t start his football career until later in life. He was working as a construction worker before being spotted by a non-league club at the age of 21. From there, he played for several lower-league clubs before finally signing for Crystal Palace at the age of 27. Despite his late start, Wright went on to become one of the most successful strikers in English football history, scoring 113 Premier League goals and winning two Premier League titles with Arsenal.
Didier Drogba – The legendary Premier League striker didn’t actually start playing at a football academy until he was 15 years old. Before that point he simply kicked a ball around on the streets, in the car parks, or at home. Drogba is regarded as one of the greatest African players of all time, and one of the best strikers the Premier League has ever seen.
Is It Too Late To Join Kixx?
Any child from the age of 18 months old to 10 years old can join Kixx, no matter what their football experience or existing skill is. If you are one of the parents as we mentioned earlier, worrying about your child never kicking a ball, be assured that it isn’t a problem here at #TeamOrange.
If you would like to learn more about Kixx and what we offer in our lessons, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team.
You can call us on 01302 618080 or email admin@kixx.org.uk.
