In short
- The best gifts for football players aged 5-12 are things they’ll use every week: training kit, match-day kit and something to practise with at home.
- A rebounder is one of the most useful presents for a child who plays, because it turns any garden into a training pitch.
- Shin pads are compulsory under the Laws of the Game, so a new, properly sized pair is a practical present for a growing player.
- A named boot bag earns its keep every single weekend.
- Finish with a keepsake that’s about them, not their kit.
Gifts for football players are a bit different from gifts for football fans. A child who plays every Saturday doesn’t just want to watch the game. They want to get better at it, and they’ll use the right present far more than any novelty.
This guide covers practical gifts for football players aged 5-12, from training kit to match-day essentials, plus one present they’ll keep long after the boots stop fitting. If they’re more of a watcher than a player, our main guide to football gifts has more ideas.
What are the best gifts for football players aged 5-12?
The best gifts for football players aged 5-12 help them practise, play in comfort or feel like part of the team. Here’s the short list:
- A rebounder or mini goal for practising at home.
- A training set: cones, an agility ladder and a size-appropriate ball.
- Match-day kit: new shin pads, grip socks or football socks.
- Winter extras: a thermal base layer, gloves and a snood for cold mornings.
- A named boot bag to carry it all.
- A keepsake that celebrates them as a player.
Pick one “big” item and add one or two smaller bits around it.
Gifts for football players who train at home
Children who practise at home improve fastest, and the right kit makes practice fun rather than a chore.
- A football rebounder. A net that bounces the ball straight back, so they can work on passing, first touch and shooting on their own. It’s a hugely popular present with young players, and for good reason: it never gets tired of passing back.
- A mini goal. Pop-up goals fold flat and go anywhere, from the garden to the park.
- Cones and an agility ladder. Cheap, light and endlessly useful for dribbling drills and footwork.
- A skills ball. A smaller or weighted ball helps with close control.
If space is tight, cones and a ball are enough. Plenty of good players learned in a hallway.
What do kids who play every weekend actually need?
Kids who play every weekend need kit that fits, keeps them warm and survives the washing machine. It’s not glamorous, but these are the gifts that get used most.
Shin pads. Under Law 4 of the Laws of the Game, shinguards are compulsory and must be an appropriate size and covered by the socks. Children grow out of them quickly, so a new pair is always useful.
Socks and grip socks. Every player gets through a lot of socks. Some older players like grip socks under their match socks for extra grip inside their boots.
Thermals. A base layer and football tights make winter mornings far more bearable, especially for younger players standing around at training.
A boot bag. A personalised football boot bag with their name and number keeps muddy boots away from everything else. It’s the gift they’ll carry to every single match.
Which gifts suit goalkeepers?
Goalkeepers need position-specific kit, so the best gifts for young keepers are gloves, glove care and padded clothing.
A good pair of gloves in the right size is the obvious one. Add a glove bag to keep wet gloves separate, or padded shorts for hard or artificial pitches. The Laws of the Game also allow goalkeepers to wear tracksuit bottoms, which younger keepers appreciate on frosty mornings.
Football player gift ideas by budget
Good football player gift ideas exist at every price. Spend on the thing they’ll use most.
Small presents. Socks, a named water bottle, a set of cones, a snood or gloves for the winter.
Mid-range presents. Shin pads, a boot bag, a thermal set, a pop-up goal or a good-quality ball.
Bigger presents. A rebounder, a full training set, or tickets to watch their favourite club with you.
If the whole team is buying for a coach or teammates, our guide to football team gift ideas covers group presents.
Is a personalised gift worth it for a young footballer?
Yes, because kit wears out and gets outgrown, but a personalised keepsake doesn’t. It’s the present that marks who they are as a player right now.
A personalised football book makes them the hero of their own club’s story. You choose their name, their shirt number (anything from 1 to 99), their hair colour, skin tone and eye colour, so the player on the page genuinely looks like them. Then you add your own message on the inside cover: their first season, their first goal, or how proud you are of them.
They’re not reading about the star player. They ARE the star player. Every illustration is hand-drawn by a real artist. No AI, ever.
How do you choose football training gifts by age?
Choose football training gifts by how seriously they play, as well as how old they are.
- Aged 5-6: keep it fun. A soft ball, a pop-up goal and a few cones for garden games.
- Aged 7-9: they’re playing matches now, so shin pads, grip socks and a rebounder all get used.
- Aged 10-12: they know what they need. Ask about their position, then think gloves for a keeper, a proper training set or a quality ball.
For present ideas beyond kit, including books pitched at the right reading level, see our guide to football books by age.
Frequently asked questions
What’s a good first present for a child who’s just joined a team? Shin pads that fit, a boot bag with their name on it, and a ball for the garden. Those three cover their first season.
Is a rebounder worth it for a young child? For a child who plays every week, yes. It gives them something to practise with when there’s nobody to pass to.
Should I buy football boots as a present? Only if they can try them on first. Feet grow fast, boots that are too big or too tight make playing miserable, and different brands fit very differently. A gift card for a sports shop, plus a trip together to get them fitted, is often the better present.
What if they play more than one position? Stick to kit every player needs: shin pads, socks, a boot bag and a ball. Save the position-specific gifts, like goalkeeper gloves, for when they’ve settled into a role.
Can I get a football gift that lasts as they grow? Kit won’t, but a personalised storybook will. It’s the present they’ll keep long after the boots stop fitting.