The Best Soccer Classes for Kids

Book a Free Class

The Best Soccer Classes for Kids

Book a Free Class

Learning Fueled By Fun!

Since the program began at Arena Sports in 1999, Lil’ Kickers has been at the forefront of early childhood education, becoming a trusted choice for parents nationwide. Through innovative, soccer-based games and activities, our child development classes promote not only athletic skills but also essential social, cognitive, emotional, and physical development, laying the groundwork for your child’s bright future!

Why Choose Lil’ Kickers at Arena Sports?

Kids tackle age-appropriate developmental milestones

Emphasis on Fun & Learning

Innovative and proven curriculum

Kids have fun with soccer cones during a Lil' Kickers soccer class at Arena Sports

Rooted in renowned child development theories

High-energy coaches

It’s a foundation for building soccer and life skills

More Than 2 Million Kids
Nationwide have participated in Lil’ Kickers over the past 25 years.

6 Permanent Locations
Offering Lil’ Kickers at Arena Sports indoors year-round, with additional outdoor locations in the summer.

Over 500 Classes
Available to choose from in a given season.

Ready to get started?

Starting at Lil’ Kickers is simple and convenient. With open enrollment, you can sign up online anytime, or come give us a try! New customers can enjoy a free class to experience the program firsthand.

Our sessions at Arena Sports typically run for 12-13 weeks and consist of weekly 50-minute classes designed to guide your child through age-appropriate milestones. Join our community of over two million happy kids and their families at one of our convenient year-round locations or seasonal outdoor venues today.

Multiple program locations in the Seattle area

With six year-round locations, finding a soccer class near you has never been easier. Regardless of where you live, there’s a convenient option to suit your busy lifestyle, giving you more quality moments with your child and less time spent on long commutes. Click on the location names below to learn more about those locations on our Register page.

Year-Round Locations:
Issaquah • Magnuson • Mercer Island • Mill Creek • Redmond • SODO

Summer Outdoor Locations:
Ballard • Bellevue • Magnuson Park • Mercer Island • Queen Anne • Sammamish/Issaquah • West Seattle

Multiple program locations in the Seattle area

With six year-round locations, finding a soccer class near you has never been easier. Regardless of where you live, there’s a convenient option to suit your busy lifestyle, giving you more quality moments with your child and less time spent on long commutes. Click on the location names below to learn more about those locations on our Register page.

Year-Round Locations:
Issaquah • Magnuson • Mercer Island • Mill Creek • Redmond • SODO

Summer Outdoor Locations:
Ballard • Bellevue • Magnuson Park • Mercer Island • Queen Anne • Sammamish/Issaquah • West Seattle

Our Kids Soccer Program: The Road to Development

Our seamlessly integrated development tracks help children grow and build confidence in their abilities. Each path is designed to tackle different developmental stages and milestones, ensuring every child progresses at their own pace. Whether parents are looking to boost their child’s soccer skills or just want an activity to bond over, Lil’ Kickers has the perfect class.

Lil' Kickers Bunnies Class

Bunnies
18 – 24 Months
Parent/Guardian participation
15:1 child-to-coach ratio
50 minutes

Often a child’s first experience with group learning, this class is designed to give them a perfect start. Group learning and sensory-motor activities led by our Coach.

Lil' Kickers Thumpers Class

Thumpers
2 – 3 Years
Parent/Guardian participation
12:1 child-to-coach ratio
50 minutes

In this class, kids begin to learn to actively engage with the coach and other players. Active engagement with the coach and peers, fostering early social skills.

Lil' Kickers Cottontails Class

Cottontails
2 ½ – 3 ½ Years 
Parent/Guardian participation
7:1 or 14:2 child-to-coach ratio
50 minutes

Here, preschoolers who are not quite ready to be on the field alone discover some independence. Helping preschoolers gain some independence while still having parental support.

Lil' Kickers Hoppers Class

Hoppers
3 & 4 Years
7:1 or 14:2 child-to-coach ratio
50 minutes

To share and share alike? Not always. These kiddos are raring to go, but need lots of direction to get there. Fun, engaging class helping kids learn to follow directions with ample guidance from their coach.

Lil' Kickers Jackrabbits Class

Jackrabbits
3 & 4 Years
7:1 or 14:2 child-to-coach ratio
50 minutes

Fun and fast-paced classes for kids who are naturally a little more competitive or with previous class experience. Fun, fast-paced classes tailored for children with prior experience who are looking for their next level.

Lil' Kickers Big Feet Class

Big Feet
5 & 6 Years 
12:1 child-to-coach ratio
50 minutes

For kids who are just getting introduced to organized soccer or who are less competitive by nature but want a great soccer experience. Introduction to organized soccer for children who are less competitive, emphasizing fun and basic soccer skill development.

Lil' Kickers Micro Classes

Micro Classes
4/5, 6/7, 8/9 years
12:1 child-to-coach ratio
50 minutes

Does your child always have a ball at their feet, constantly talk about soccer, or simply want to get better? Micro classes are designed for motivated young soccer players. Coaching remains child-centered and fun, but with a focus on fundamentals and weekly game-like situations to solidify learning. Players get 30 minutes of age-appropriate instruction and 20 minutes of small-sided scrimmages. Classes are available by age: Micro 4/5, Micro 6/7, and Micro 8/9.

Skills Institute
5/6, 7/8, 9 – 12 Years
12:1 child-to-coach ratio
50 minutes

Want More Soccer? Try Skills Institute!

Skills Institute is where soccer takes center stage. Rooted in child development theory, kids have a blast learning and improving technical and tactical soccer skills. Players will walk away more confident, equipped for their next right step, and ready for life’s challenges on and off the field.

Lil' Kickers Bunnies Class

Bunnies | 18 – 24 months

Parent/Guardian participation
15:1 child-to-coach ratio
50 minutes

Often a child’s first experience with group learning, this class is designed to give them a perfect start. Group learning and sensory-motor activities led by our Coach.

Lil' Kickers Thumpers Class

Thumpers | 2 – 3 years

Parent/Guardian participation
12:1 child-to-coach ratio
50 minutes

In this class, kids begin to learn to actively engage with the coach and other players. Active engagement with the coach and peers, fostering early social skills.

Lil' Kickers Cottontails Class

Cottontails | 2½ – 3½ years

Parent/Guardian participation
7:1 or 14:2 child-to-coach ratio
50 minutes

Here, preschoolers who are not quite ready to be on the field alone discover some independence. Helping preschoolers gain some independence while still having parental support.

Lil' Kickers Hoppers Class

Hoppers | 3 – 4 years

7:1 or 14:2 child-to-coach ratio
50 minutes

To share and share alike? Not always. These kiddos are raring to go, but need lots of direction to get there. Fun, engaging class helping kids learn to follow directions with ample guidance from their coach.

Lil' Kickers Jackrabbits Class

Jackrabbits | 3 – 4 years

7:1 or 14:2 child-to-coach ratio
50 minutes

Fun and fast-paced classes for kids who are naturally a little more competitive or with previous class experience. Fun, fast-paced classes tailored for children with prior experience who are looking for their next level.

Lil' Kickers Big Feet Class

Big Feet | 5 – 6 years

12:1 child-to-coach ratio
50 minutes

For kids who are just getting introduced to organized soccer or who are less competitive by nature but want a great soccer experience. Introduction to organized soccer for children who are less competitive, emphasizing fun and basic soccer skill development.

Lil' Kickers Micro Classes

Micro Classes | 4/5, 6/7, 8/9 years

12:1 child-to-coach ratio
50 minutes

Does your child always have a ball at their feet, constantly talk about soccer, or simply want to get better? Micro classes are designed for motivated young soccer players. Coaching remains child-centered and fun, but with a focus on fundamentals and weekly game-like situations to solidify learning. Players get 30 minutes of age-appropriate instruction and 20 minutes of small-sided scrimmages. Classes are available by age: Micro 4/5, Micro 6/7, and Micro 8/9.

Skills Institute | 5/6, 7/8, 9 – 12 years

12:1 child-to-coach ratio
50 minutes

Want More Soccer? Try Skills Institute!

Skills Institute is where soccer takes center stage. Rooted in child development theory, kids have a blast learning and improving technical and tactical soccer skills. Players will walk away more confident, equipped for their next right step, and ready for life’s challenges on and off the field.

Questions? We’ve got answers!

Participants should wear comfortable clothes and athletic shoes (no outdoor cleats). Shinguards are not needed until Micro Classes and Skills Institute classes. Lil’ Kickers or Skills Institute jerseys are given to first-time customers for free, and can thereafter be purchased at a low cost. Outfitting your child in Lil’ Kickers garb is a fun way to make your child feel part of a team. Plus, kids love looking like their older soccer-playing role models!

Classes are 50 minutes with a water break halfway through. Typically, a session consists of 12-13 classes, held once a week.

We offer four sessions a year (fall, winter, spring, summer) that break down into approximately 10-13 week cycles.

No, classes are 50 minutes and require a parent or guardian to be on-site at all times.

Yes! We offer open enrollment so you can join any time. Class fees are prorated so you only pay for the remaining classes in the session.

Session fees are paid upfront. However, you can set up a payment plan with a credit or debit card. 

Please note: Class fees are prorated for those who join mid-session.

Lil’ Kickers is a child development soccer program that teaches basic skills through fun, creative, and energetic games. Skills Institute also encourages age-appropriate child development and focuses on teaching more technical and tactical skills through various fast-paced, challenging and structured drills.

While many soccer programs are busy using traditional soccer skill drills to drive home the fundamentals of soccer, we approach coaching from a child-centered perspective. Because of this perspective, our main goal is to make learning fun for kids. We do this by putting instruction into a context that children understand, using special techniques designed around how kids naturally learn. Lil’ Kickers teaches your child the fundamentals of soccer but focuses on developing the whole child. Our program helps build social, emotional, and cognitive skills that result in our Lil Kickers becoming well-balanced and conscientious individuals on and off the soccer field.

Children with special needs are welcome in our program as long as we are equipped to assist them accordingly. Please email a Lil’ Kickers Coordinator for more information.

Yes! We offer a sibling discount of $15.00 for each additional child registered when the children are registered at the same time.

We understand life can get busy and you might have to miss a class. With our easy make-up class policy, you may schedule a make-up class online. Make-up classes are based on availability and not guaranteed. They must be made within the current session. We will do our very best to accommodate your requests. If you have multiple children, please schedule a make-up class for each child individually.

No, in order to maintain class ratios and consistency within the program, we schedule children for specific times and days. When registering, be sure to first determine which day best suits your schedule. Of course, there may be an occasion when a make-up class is needed. In that situation, you can schedule a make-up class for any day in which class space is available. If your schedule changes during the session and you need to switch days, we will try to accommodate your needs to the best of our ability. However, changes cannot be guaranteed and are based on space availability.

Ratios vary depending on several factors including the mobility of the children in the class, whether parents are participating in the class, and the level of technical instruction required. Typically, if a class has more than 8 children, there will be a second coach. Some exceptions may apply.

In this situation, we normally suggest placing the child in a Cottontails class. Cottontails classes are methodically structured and specifically designed to promote independence. We have found that these classes provide a successful, long-term solution to separation issues.

Skills Institute offers a higher level of technical instruction and is priced accordingly. 

Why should your child play soccer?

Besides being fun, soccer is beloved worldwide, transcending borders and cultures to unite fans from every corner of the globe. For kids, however, playing the sport has tremendous benefits, making it essential for their growth and development. 

  • Physically, soccer promotes cardiovascular health, enhances muscular strength, and improves agility and coordination, giving children a strong foundation for a healthy lifestyle. 
  • Socially, soccer promotes teamwork and sportsmanship, teaching kids to collaborate, resolve conflicts, and build friendships. 
  • Cognitively, , soccer classes for kids and youth soccer teams provide a structured environment for boosting self-confidence and developing critical thinking. Plus, it teaches kids to work in a fast-paced environment leading to improved strategy and decision-making skills

It’s also one of the most accessible sports for children, requiring minimal equipment and being open to players of all sizes and genders. Whether it’s soccer for toddlers or youth soccer leagues, this sport equips children with vital life skills and supports their holistic development.

Two children practice soccer in a Lil' Kickers class at Arena Sports

The Fun Starts Here!

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