By Dr. Mark Gould, PhD in Psychology
Hello parents! Are you ready to kick off your journey in teaching some future football stars? Teaching toddler football and pre-school kids football can be an absolute joy—and quite the workout too! The key to success here is keeping things light, fun, and super engaging for those tiny attention spans. Here are my top 10 tips to make football a blast with the little ones. Let’s get started!
1. Keep It Playful
At this age, it’s all about play! Forget about strict drills or rigid rules—toddlers learn best through fun and games. Turn everything into a playful challenge. For example, they can try to kick a ball through the “magic tunnel” (two cones), or race to dribble past the “sleeping dragon” (that’s you, pretending to be asleep, of course). We call this “analogous learning” – which essentially means framing every activity in a way that is familiar to the children. Feel free to incorporate familiar characters here – Peppa Pig, Hey Duggee and Bluey are flavours of the month at the time of writing!
2. Use Small Balls
Trying to kick a ball that’s bigger than your foot can be tricky for little ones. For toddlers, a ball that’s too big or too heavy can be discouraging. Go for a small, size appropriate ball. We use Mitre Size 2 footballs at S4K, which is perfect for children from 15 months. It is a good quality ball too – stays inflated and doesn’t lose shape over time.
3. Focus on Simple Footwork
Keep it simple! Instead of worrying about teaching complicated footwork, start with the basics. Encourage them to gently tap the ball with different parts of their foot. See if they can roll the ball back and forth, side to side and then drag it behind them. This increases comfort on the ball and will build their balance and coordination while they have a great time. Feel free to add in some silly sounds for each movement to get them laughing and smiling while playing.
4. Incorporate Animal Movements
Toddlers love animals, so why not bring them into the game? Ask them to move like different animals as they play—stomp like an elephant, hop like a rabbit, or scurry like a crab. This adds variety and keeps them engaged. Plus, it’s a fun way to develop agility and coordination on the field. Add in different types of animal kicks for toddler football – elephants with their big kicks and cheetahs with their fast running kicks!
5. Praise Effort, Not Skill
At this age, it’s all about celebrating effort. Give lots of praise for trying hard, running fast, or giving it a good kick—even if the ball goes in the wrong direction! Positive reinforcement is key to building confidence and keeping them eager to try again. This is a good mantra for developing confident and healthy children overall. Praising effort leads to trying a greater number of things – praising talent can often mean that children do not try new activities or skills as they are “afraid” of not living up to their status.
6. Turn Learning Into Story Time
Get their imaginations involved by telling stories while you play. Perhaps you’re off on a pirate adventure, and the ball is a treasure that needs protecting, or they’re brave knights defending their castle. Stories create an immersive experience that can make learning football skills much more exciting.
7. Teach Through Fun Drills, Not Drills
For toddlers, the word “drill” might as well be “nap.” Keep them active by setting up mini-games that involve kicking, dribbling, or even just running with the ball. Things like “chase the ball” or “kick the ball and catch the coach” make practicing skills more appealing for kids football.
8. Play “Follow the Leader”
This classic game is perfect for introducing toddlers to basic football moves. Start with simple actions like dribbling or stopping the ball, and let them imitate you. Gradually add new moves, but keep it simple and easy to follow. It’s a fun way to get them moving and build teamwork.
9. Introduce Them to Goal Scoring Early On
Scoring a goal is the ultimate thrill! Set up mini-goals and let them try to kick the ball in. Every goal is worth a big celebration! The more enthusiastic you are, the more excited they’ll be to try again. It’s a fantastic way to build their motivation and love for the game.
10. End with a Fun Cool-Down
After running around, it’s time for a cool-down. Try a game of “sleeping lions” where everyone lies down and pretends to sleep, or do a gentle stretch session. Cool-downs help toddlers wind down and bring a calm end to the fun, giving you all a moment to reflect on a great session.
Remember, teaching toddlers and pre-school football is all about planting the seeds for a love of the game. With patience, enthusiasm, and a good dose of silliness, you’ll help them develop the basics of football while having a fantastic time together.
Fancy bringing your toddler or pre-schooler along to toddler football classes or kids football classes? Check out our locations here and come and enjoy the fun!
Enjoy the journey, and happy coaching!
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