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Under 5s

Too young for the academy just now? Join the interest list and we'll get in touch before your child's year starts.

Join the interest listGames to play at home

How it works

Parents of babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers can join the list now. We get in touch in the spring of the year your child turns five, ahead of a summer start, with what's happening for their birth year.

Starting a new group depends on having coaches, so we'll also ask whether you could help. A group starts when there are enough children and enough adults to run it well.

We keep the list only until your child joins or their starting year has passed. Privacy.

Join the interest list

A new group starts when there are enough grown-ups to run it. You don't need to have played or coached.

We only use what you type here to reply to you. See our privacy page for what we keep and for how long.

Three games to start with

Each one starts without a ball, then brings the ball in. Stay on a stage as long as it's fun.

Stepping Stones Trail

Step on every stone, go around the rocks and through the grown-up tunnel, then walk back and go again.

Stepping Stones Trail: set-upGtunnelstonesrocks1231 every stone, 2 round therocks, 3 through the tunnel.
  • your child
  • Ggrown-up
  • run
  • 1in this order

How to play

  • The child steps on every stone, goes around the rocks and through the tunnel, then walks back and goes again.
Stage 1no ball.Stage 2carry the ball, roll it through the tunnel and crawl after it. For the youngest, that is the whole game.Stage 3nudge the ball with a foot, walk to it, nudge it again, and one last nudge through the tunnel.
  • If a rock gets touched, everyone throws their hands up and shouts Whoosh!

The full game: set-up, what you need, easier and harder, and the video

Feed the Monster

A small goal or a big box is a hungry monster. Feed it the ball, and the grown-up makes a big gulp.

Feed the Monster: set-upGmonster1231 ball on the marker, 2 feedthe monster, 3 big gulp.
  • your child
  • Ggrown-up
  • shot
  • 1in this order

How to play

  • Your child feeds the monster the ball, with hands or feet, and you make a big gulp.
  • Put the ball back on the marker each time, so it is always a still ball.
  • If it is not going in, move the marker closer, even right up to the monster's mouth. Never further away.
  • Next: your child gets the ball back out of the monster's mouth, runs round a cone and feeds it again.
  • Then turn the monster to face a new way after each feed.
  • Count everyone's feeds together, never each child's own.

The full game: set-up, what you need, easier and harder, and the video

Red Light, Green Light Cars

Green means drive (run) with engine noises. Red means freeze. Park on a marker at the end.

Red Light, Green Light Cars: set-upGgreenpark hereGreen up: drive, with engine noises.GredRed up: freeze on the spot.
  • children
  • Ggrown-up
  • run

How to play

  • Green: drive (run) and make engine noises. Red: freeze.
Stage 1no ball.Stage 2carry the ball. It is the shopping in the boot.Stage 3the ball is the car. On red, stop it with a foot on top and freeze with arms up.
  • Park on the marker at the end.

The full game: set-up, what you need, easier and harder, and the video

What works at this age

  • Body first, then the ball in the hands, then the ball at the feet.
  • Kicking a still ball comes long before kicking a moving one.
  • One instruction at a time.
  • Every wobble and miss gets the same cheer as a goal.
  • If it's not working, make it easier.

20 more games for under 5s at home