Playing club soccer 1–2 times a week is a great foundation—but if you want to help your child really progress, there’s more to consider.
1. Private Coaching & Small-group Training
Many young players complement club sessions with:
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1-on-1 coaching, focusing on skills like ball control, decision-making, and tactical awareness.
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Small-group training with 3–6 players to simulate real match situations and develop teamwork.
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Soccer academies and holiday camps offering intensive skill development and game play.
These options provide personalised attention and a faster learning curve.
2. Home Drills: Building Skills Independently
Independent training helps solidify technical skills.
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Practising wall passes, juggling, and dribbling regularly builds control and confidence.
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Just 10–15 minutes a day can maintain momentum between club sessions.
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Home practice encourages discipline and self-motivation—key traits for long-term success.
3. The Role of Multi-Sport Participation — Finding the Right Balance
Playing multiple sports can be a great way to develop overall athletic skills like coordination, balance, and agility. In Australia, many kids enjoy more than one sport, which keeps things fun and fresh.
However, it’s important to be mindful:
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Too many sports, especially ones that don’t share similar movement patterns to soccer—like badminton or fencing—may not directly improve soccer skills.
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Constantly switching between very different sports can reduce the efficiency of skill development in your main sport.
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Overloading on several sports without proper strength and conditioning support can lead to fatigue and increase the risk of injury.
The key is finding a balanced approach that supports your child’s passion for soccer while promoting overall fitness and injury prevention.
4. Are Australian Kids Training Enough?
While many Australian kids love sport, there’s a concerning trend:
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Participation in organised sport peaks between ages 9–11, but declines sharply after 12–13 years old, especially in team sports like soccer (Sport Australia AusPlay report).
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Only about 1 in 4 Australian children meet the recommended 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity every day (Australian Government Department of Health).
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This means many kids aren’t developing key fitness and skills during crucial growth years.
5. Simple Ways to Increase Daily Movement
If formal training is limited, parents can encourage fun and simple activities such as:
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Street soccer drills: dribbling around cones or objects in the driveway.
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Freestyle juggling: great for focus and ball touch.
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Backyard games: 1v1 or small-sided matches with friends or siblings.
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Bike rides and scooting: promote cardio fitness and leg strength.
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Agility and coordination exercises: ladder drills or hopscotch to build footwork.
Regular movement like this helps improve fitness, coordination, and love for the game.
6. Why Holidays Are Crucial for Staying Active
School holidays can cause lapses in activity as kids tend to spend more time on screens.
Encourage them to:
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Play informal soccer matches in the park or backyard.
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Go cycling or scooting with friends and family.
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Attend soccer camps or clinics to keep skills sharp.
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Set fun challenges like juggling goals or wall pass targets at home.
Active holidays prevent loss of fitness and skill, and keep motivation high for the new season.
7. How 2Addictive Lifestyles Supports Young Players
At 2Addictive, we help kids develop holistically:
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Personal coaching tailored to each child’s needs.
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Small-group sessions focusing on teamwork and competitive scenarios.
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Holiday programs that combine fun, fitness, and skill-building.
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Resources for home practice to encourage daily engagement.
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Support for multi-sport athletes to build overall athleticism.
Final Thoughts
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Club training 1–2 times a week provides a base—but the journey to improvement needs more.
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Private coaching, group training, and balanced multi-sport activity all boost development.
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Simple daily movement and active holidays keep kids growing stronger and more confident.
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Supporting your child’s love for the game with variety and consistency sets them up for success.
Ready to take their game to the next level?
Explore our private sessions, small group training, or holiday programs at 2Addictive Lifestyles. Let’s build skill, fitness, and passion together.
