The best age to start kids soccer

So your little one is full of energy and jumping all around the house. Gone are the days you used to cradle your baby as they are now a little independent child with this new found abundance of liveliness, you may start thinking you should sign them up to a soccer class.

But what age is best for a child to start soccer? 

As a kids coach of 25 years, I believe the best age to start soccer to be 3 years old. However, let me explain why I believe this and allow you to make your own decision for your child. Multiple sources of research state that a child should begin organized sport at the age of 6 years old. But hold on, you just saw a class for a two year old? And I just said 3 years old is the better option. This is where the confusion begins of what is best for your little one.

First, let’s define what organized sport means. Organized sport is the introduction to rules and regulations in a competitive game setting. So straight away we know this isn’t for your little ones. However, a soccer class for young children could be mistaken as ‘organized’ where in fact it would be more educational play. So a class that focuses on fun and education would definitely work for the younger age group, whilst allowing them to begin to understand the concept of a sport.

But doesn’t organized sport have rules and regulations that my little one is too young for?

This is where the disagreement begins with a 6 year old being the best age to start a sport in an organized setting. After coaching many classes I can tell you now a 3 year old can begin to understand rules. In a soccer class they know which goal to score in. They know not to pick up the ball. They know who is on the other team. They know to celebrate when they score. They know to stay on the field inside the cones. This shows that they have a concept of how the game is played in an organized setting. Trust me, they start to get competitive as the weeks progress. The only difference is the game needed to be adapted to implement more fun and only introduce a few rules in the beginning.

So what age should my child start soccer class?

There is no correct answer. Every child develops at different stages of their life and may need more time to build their focus and concentration before starting an organized class. However, if you are undecided, sign up for a free trial class in your local area to see how your little one participates. Or you can just be active with them and introduce a soccer ball until they show signs of interest. Overall, you will know when they are ready to start their soccer journey.