Best Soccer Products for Kids: What to Buy at Each Age
The best soccer products for kids include a competition size ball, suitable boots and shin guards, followed by soccer training equipment for home practice. For girls and boys from around age 8, add Curl Master One, sold by The Giro X, to practise striking contact and spin control. This guide sets out what to buy at each age, for girls and boys alike. It explains what to look for in each item before any money is spent.
What Soccer Equipment Do Kids Need First?
The first purchases are the ones the Laws of the Game ask for. Law 4 lists five compulsory items for every player: a shirt with sleeves, shorts, socks, shin guards and footwear. Check which playing kit the club provides and which items families must buy. That answer shapes the rest of the shopping and helps parents organise the kit before the first training session.
The soccer equipment for kids that follows is a short list, much like the uniform list a school sends home before term. Alongside the required shirt and shorts, buy suitable footwear, shin guards and socks that cover the guards. A ball in the competition size provides equipment for practice at home. A drink bottle and a bag to keep the kit together are sensible additions, and neither needs to be soccer specific.
Which Ball Size Suits Which Age?
Australia's national MiniRoos formats specify size 3 balls for under 6s through under 9s and size 4 for under 10s and under 11s. MiniRoos is the junior format run by Football Australia for children aged 4 to 11. Check the competition requirements before buying a match ball or choosing another ball for practice at home. Law 2 gives the standard ball a circumference of 68 to 70 centimetres. Its weight at the start of a match must be 410 to 450 grams.
State federations and clubs in Australia confirm when older juniors move up to the full size ball. New Zealand readers can check with their own federation in the same way. Buy the size specified for the child's competition, so home practice uses the same ball size. Goals are scaled to age as well. Under 6s and under 7s in MiniRoos play with four players per side and no goalkeeper. Their goals measure 2 metres wide and 1 metre high, a useful reference when choosing a home goal.
What Should Parents Look For in Boots and Shin Guards?
Parents should look for boots that fit comfortably over match socks and shin guards in a size that the playing socks cover completely. A boot should be tried on with the long socks the child will wear on the pitch. It should feel comfortable from the first wear. Check the playing surface and the venue requirements before choosing a sole, then compare suitable boots for fit and fastening.
Law 4 asks for shin guards of an appropriate size and suitable material, covered by the socks. Those are the points to check in the shop before choosing a pair for the season. The same checklist applies to girls and boys, since both play under the same equipment law. As with school shoes, check the fit again before buying for the next season, and compare suitable pairs within the family budget.
Which Training Gear Is Worth Having at Home?
Flat markers help organise dribbling practice, while a portable goal provides a shooting target and a rebounder supports passing practice. Markers can lay out a course or define a target area in the available space. Before buying a goal, check its dimensions, anchoring requirements and assembly instructions. A rebounder returns the ball for passing and first touch work, and a second ball reduces the time spent fetching.
What should a parent look for in this kind of soccer equipment for kids? Compare the assembled dimensions, storage requirements and setup instructions with the available space. An adult should handle any assembly or anchoring that the instructions require. The guides on soccer training and soccer skills show how these pieces fit into a session, so that the equipment has a job from the first day.
Where Does Curl Master One Fit Among Soccer Gear for Kids?
Curl Master One spins a standard ball at controlled speeds for practice focused on striking contact and spin control. The player feels immediately whether the contact was right. It provides a way to practise contact and spin control alongside work on free kicks and crosses. The pages on how to curve a soccer ball and soccer free kicks explain that technique. A curved ball lets a player create scoring angles that a straight shot cannot, giving the strike a place in junior practice.
Curl Master One suits girls and boys from around age 8 up to adult. Its six speed settings let a younger player start at the top speed and turn it down as technique grows. The setting can therefore change as the player develops, rather than remaining fixed throughout their practice. Players aged 8 to 12 should train with an adult nearby, as with any ball work.
A parent who has never played soccer can still help with Curl Master One. The player feels immediately whether the strike was right, and the parent sets the speed using the dial. There is no app and no subscription. Curl Master One also fits alongside club training. The coach teaches the technique, and Curl Master One supplies practice between sessions. The page on junior soccer coaching covers how the two work together.
How Does Home Practice Fit Around Club Training?
Home practice can be organised around club sessions and school commitments, with an adult nearby for players aged 8 to 12 using Curl Master One. Choose a clear focus for each session, such as striking contact, and use the speed dial as described in the product instructions. A coach can help connect that practice with the technique being taught at training. A marker course provides a defined area for ball work between club sessions, and its layout can be chosen to suit the available space. For the basics of striking, the guide on how to kick a soccer ball is a useful place to begin before the curved shot is introduced.
When Is the Best Time to Buy?
Buy boots and shin guards close to the first training session, when the fit is current. Balls and training gear can be bought at any time of year. Check the local competition calendar before buying seasonal kit, because playing dates vary across Australia. The club or state federation can confirm them. Training gear can be selected throughout the year to suit the local programme and the space available for practice.
Curl Master One comes with a 30 day money back guarantee and a 1 year warranty covering hardware faults. That cover includes the motor, battery and controls. Compare the six speed settings and intended age range with the player's practice plans, alongside the stated guarantee and warranty. Start with the ball and the boots, then add Curl Master One once the player is around 8 and ready to work on the strike.
Facts
- MiniRoos is designed for children aged 4 to 11 years. Source: Government of Western Australia, Sports Dimensions Guide (soccer), checked 2026-11-11
- The national MiniRoos formats specify a size 3 ball for under 6 to under 9 players. Source: Football Australia, MiniRoos National Playing Formats and Rules, checked 2026-11-11
- The national MiniRoos formats specify a size 4 ball for under 10 and under 11 players. Source: Football Australia, MiniRoos National Playing Formats and Rules, checked 2026-11-11
- Under the national MiniRoos formats, under 6 and under 7 teams have 4 players per side and no goalkeeper. Source: Football Australia, MiniRoos National Playing Formats and Rules, checked 2026-11-11
- Under the national MiniRoos formats, under 6 and under 7 goals measure 2 metres wide and 1 metre high. Source: Football Australia, MiniRoos National Playing Formats and Rules, checked 2026-11-11
- Law 2 specifies a ball circumference of 68 to 70 centimetres for the standard game. Source: IFAB, Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 2, checked 2026-11-11
- Law 2 specifies a ball weight of 410 to 450 grams at the start of a match. Source: IFAB, Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 2, checked 2026-11-11
- Law 4 lists 5 compulsory player equipment items: a shirt with sleeves, shorts, socks, shinguards and footwear. Source: IFAB, Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 4, checked 2026-11-11
FAQs
What soccer equipment do kids need to start playing?
A junior needs a shirt with sleeves, shorts, socks, shin guards and footwear. These are the five compulsory items in Law 4 of the Laws of the Game. Check which playing kit the club provides and which items families must buy. Then add a ball in the competition size for practice at home.
What size soccer ball should a child use?
Under Australia's national MiniRoos formats, under 6s to under 9s use a size 3 ball. Under 10s and under 11s use a size 4. Check the older junior competition rules with the club or state federation. They confirm when players move to the full size ball.
What age is Curl Master One suitable for?
Curl Master One suits players from around age 8 up to adult. Its six speed settings let a younger player start at the top speed and turn it down as technique grows. Players aged 8 to 12 should train with an adult nearby.
Does Curl Master One need an app or a subscription?
Curl Master One has no app and no subscription, and it works with a standard ball. The Giro X backs it with a 30 day money back guarantee and a 1 year warranty.
Is soccer gear different for girls and boys?
The equipment checklist is the same for girls and boys playing under the same competition rules. Both need the specified ball size and compulsory playing kit. Check individual fit by trying boots and shin guards on with match socks.
Does a child still need a coach with home training gear?
Coaching and home equipment work together. A coach teaches the technique at club sessions. Gear such as Curl Master One gives a junior a way to practise striking contact and spin control between those sessions.
