How do I teach 2 YO DS football?

[MrsJamin]

DS1 (2.5) is hugely interested in football despite DH and I being not at all interested in any sport whatsoever! He's fascinated in watching the 'big boys' play it at the park, and just wants to kick a ball around all day. I'm really keen on encouraging him in this as I think being good at, or at least not sucking at football will give him a good chance at making friends, especially at school, and will be a great way to keep fit and healthy all his life.

I would rather not pay for him to go to toddler football coaching as I don't think we could commit to it every week and I think I should be able to do stuff with him at the park/ in the garden. Does anyone know what kind of things I can do to let him learn or will it just emerge if I just kick a ball about with him, tackle him (gently!), run alongside him, teach him how to pass to me, kick into a goal, etc?

you could get him a goal from ELC, they have a good range of outdoor toys.

really, just kick a ball about, he's a bit young for anything else. just play!

do practise throwing and catching too though, don't just focus on the feet.

Sounds about right .

Just loads of time (as long as he continues to be interested!) spent running around with a ball - kicking it back and forth, picking it up, throwing it, maybe buying a little goal for him to kick it into.

Has he got any little friends he could play with too?

You never know you might start to love it too .

yes! my ds is same age and is obsessed!!

but we all love the game too...and my older dc play with him for hours

but yes,kicking,passing etc...we have a small pop up goal,which just pegs into the ground. we use that. and the little discs for the ground for him to weave around...and let him watch the big boys!!

Thanks for the encouragement everyone! Currently using a washing basket on it's side as a goal, works brilliantly and means we don't need to buy anything else- our garden is only 4m x 8m! Hopefully practice with me is enough for now, but he has a few little friends who are similar, so I may just arrange kickarounds with them while we mums sip takeaway coffees on a bench!