Soccer Skills for Kids, Age by Age

Where Should Children Aged Four And Five Begin?

Soccer skills for kids should start with moving and stopping the ball, then progress towards passing, receiving and purposeful striking. Use the five age groups below as flexible starting points for practising soccer skills, with the same opportunities for girls and boys. This guide gives you an activity for each age group and explains how to choose your child's next challenge. From around age eight, I recommend The Giro X's Curl Master One for focused practice alongside coaching.

For children aged four and five, I would begin with moving the ball towards a recognisable destination, then stopping it. Choose a clear patch of grass and nominate a destination, such as a marker or a particular spot. Ask your child to guide the ball there at their own pace, then stop it before choosing another destination. Keep the instruction concrete: “Take the ball to the blue marker” gives you both something straightforward to work towards.

During these movement games, let your child choose the next destination or invent a name for the activity. You can take a turn while they give the instruction, making ball practice something you share. If stopping the ball needs more attention, stay with that task before adding another movement. In my opinion, practice for children aged four and five deserves room to breathe, with opportunities to try again and enjoy having the ball at their feet.

What Could Children Practise At Six And Seven?

For children aged six and seven, I would keep the movement games and introduce passing to another person, followed by receiving. Stand opposite your child with enough room for a gentle pass along the ground. Invite them to send the ball towards your feet, then return it so they can practise bringing it under control. Adjust your position together until the exchange feels manageable, using your child's response to help choose the distance between you.

To give passing practice a destination, place markers around a space between you and your child. Ask them to send the ball through that space, then swap roles so they become the receiver. Encourage them to look towards you before passing and notice where their first touch leaves the ball. In my opinion, these kids soccer skills make a useful shared activity, with the coach helping you choose which detail to revisit at home.

What Can Children Around Eight And Nine Add?

For children around eight and nine, I would introduce a purpose for the touch after receiving: move towards an open space before choosing where to pass. Set out possible destinations and let your child select one after the ball arrives. You can point towards a destination before passing, then invite them to decide without your signal when they want another challenge. Use the age label flexibly around the individual player.

From around age eight, I would also introduce Curl Master One, which works with a standard ball and has six speed settings. Younger players start at the top speed and turn it down as technique develops, with settings available through to adulthood. Players aged eight to twelve should practise with an adult nearby. In my opinion, a useful starting point is to ask the coach which striking detail to focus on, then carry that instruction into home practice.

Which Skills Could Ten To Twelve Year Olds Connect?

For children aged ten to twelve, I would connect familiar skills so that each touch has a reason behind it. Try receiving a pass and moving towards a chosen space before sending the next pass towards a target. Change the available destination between attempts, giving your child a fresh decision within a familiar activity. Ask what they noticed before offering your own observation, and use their answer to choose what you will practise together next.

For striking practice, Curl Master One provides immediate feedback through the feel of contact with the ball. Its focus on contact and spin control gives you a specific subject to discuss with the coach, including when your child is learning to curve a shot. I would keep the instruction narrow and give the player time to explore contact. In my opinion, the useful conversation is about how the contact felt and what your child would like to explore next.

How Should Older Children And New Starters Progress?

For older children and new starters, I would choose the next task around what the player currently understands and wants to attempt. An older beginner can start with stopping and passing, then add a decision when those activities become familiar. A younger player seeking another challenge could explore a different destination or use the other foot. For both girls' and boys' soccer, keep the conversation about the individual child and the skill they are practising.

When organising practice for older children, invite the player to choose a focus with their coach and explain it to you. I would use that explanation to shape the next home activity, giving the player a say in what happens. Ask which part they would like to revisit and what they want you to watch. In my opinion, that is a useful way for a parent who never played soccer to join the conversation.

How Can Parents Organise Home Practice?

I would organise home practice around a familiar activity and a clear focus agreed with your child. Ask the coach what to revisit between sessions, then invite the player to describe what they felt or noticed. When supporting soccer skills for children, I would leave pauses between observations so the player can speak. With Curl Master One, there is no app or subscription. Parents can set the dial and help their child get started, even without a soccer background.

Curl Master One Product Card

• Curl Master One has six adjustable speed settings.
• Curl Master One works with a standard ball.
• Curl Master One provides immediate feedback through the feel of striking contact.
• Curl Master One requires no app or subscription.

For a player around eight or older, my recommendation is to get Curl Master One and make striking practice part of the routine alongside coaching. I favour having adjustable settings to revisit as technique develops, with contact as the clear focus of the activity. Before the next coaching session, ask your child which striking question they want to explore. Set the dial as instructed and organise their next opportunity to practise, with an adult nearby for players aged eight to twelve.

Bring Curl Master One Home

Choose Curl Master One for soccer practice with a standard ball and adjustable speed settings.

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