7 Best Soccer Training Equipment for Kids

Last updated: August 11, 2026 · Reviewed by a certified youth soccer coach

The best soccer training equipment for kids in 2026 covers four core skills — shooting, dribbling, agility, and ball control — and typically costs between $15 and $120 per item depending on size and durability. Most parents don't need a full home gym; a goal, a rebounder, a set of cones, and an agility ladder cover almost every backyard drill a coach would run at practice. This guide breaks down seven parent-tested categories of gear, what age each one fits, and what to skip if your budget is tight.

Below, we cover what to look for before you buy, seven specific product picks with pros and cons, a side-by-side comparison table, and answers to the questions parents ask most about outfitting a young player.

Key Takeaways

• A portable pop-up goal ($20–$45) is the single most useful item for kids ages 4–14, since it works for shooting drills, small-sided games, and goalkeeper practice.
• Disc cones ($10–$20 for a 50-pack) are the cheapest way to build agility and dribbling drills and work for every age group from toddler to teen.
• Agility ladders are best suited to kids age 8 and up, since younger children often struggle to coordinate footwork patterns.
• A rebounder net ($40–$90) lets a child practice passing and first-touch control alone, without needing a second person to return the ball.
• Shin guards sized to the child's height (not age) are a safety requirement in most youth leagues, according to US Soccer's equipment guidance.

Table of Contents

• What to Look For When Buying Soccer Training Equipment
• Portable Pop-Up Soccer Goals
• Soccer Rebounder Net
• Disc Cone Set
• Agility Ladder
• Youth Training Soccer Ball
• Adjustable Shin Guards
• Ball Control Trainer (Ball Bag / Dribbling Sleeve)
• Full Comparison Table
• FAQ
• Final Verdict

What to Look For When Buying Soccer Training Equipment {#what-to-look-for}

The right piece of soccer training equipment matches the child's age, available yard space, and the specific skill they need to build. Buying gear that's too advanced for a child's coordination level is the most common mistake parents make.

Age range matters more than the brand. Kids ages 4-7 benefit most from simple, large-target gear like pop-up goals and soft training balls. Kids 8-10 are ready for cones, ladders, and rebounders that demand more coordination. Kids 11-14 can handle full-size training balls, weighted resistance gear, and multi-drill setups similar to club practice.

Space determines what actually gets used. A rebounder net or 6×4-foot goal fits most suburban backyards, while a full agility ladder needs at least 15 feet of flat, open ground.

Durability beats price on anything that touches concrete or asphalt. Driveway use wears out cheap netting and plastic cones fast; look for weighted bases and double-stitched netting if that's where the drills will happen.

Budget alternative: if you can only buy one item this year, a $15-$20 cone set paired with a soccer ball the family already owns covers dribbling, agility, and shooting-target drills without any other purchase.

Portable Pop-Up Soccer Goals {#pop-up-goals}

Age range: 4–14 (goal size should scale up with age)

• Size options: Typically sold in pairs, from 3×2 ft (ages 4–7) up to 6×4 ft (ages 11–14)
• Price range: $20–$45 for a two-goal set

Pros:

• Folds flat into a carry bag in seconds for storage or transport to a park
• Works for shooting drills, small-sided scrimmages, and goalkeeper training
• Lightweight enough for a child to set up independently

Cons:

• Smaller pop-up frames can flip over in strong wind without stakes
• Netting on budget models tends to sag or tear within a season of daily use

Verdict: A pop-up goal pair is the single most versatile piece of backyard soccer equipment for any age group, and it's usually the first purchase worth making.

Pro Tip: Buy the largest size your yard fits — kids outgrow the smaller target size faster than they outgrow the goal itself.

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Soccer Rebounder Net {#rebounder-net}

• Age range: 8–14 (younger kids often lack the control to use it productively)
• Size options: 4×3 ft compact models up to 6×4 ft club-style frames
• Price range: $40–$90

Pros:

• Lets a child practice one-touch passing and first-touch control without a partner
• Adjustable angle on most models simulates different pass heights
• Steel-frame versions hold up well to daily driveway use

Cons:

• Compact models bounce the ball unpredictably at close range
• Higher-end steel frames can be too heavy for a child to move or fold alone

Verdict: A rebounder is the best solo-practice tool for a child who wants extra reps outside of team practice, but it's not necessary before age 8.

Pro Tip: Set the rebounder against a fence or wall for younger kids so a missed rebound doesn't roll into the street.

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Disc Cone Set {#cone-set}

Age range: 4–14, the most universally useful item on this list

• Size options: Sets of 20, 50, or 100 discs, usually 9 inches in diameter
• Price range: $10–$20 for a 50-pack

Pros:

• Cheapest way to build dribbling, agility, and passing-target drills
• Stack and nest for compact storage
• Bright colors help younger kids track spacing visually

Cons:

• Thin plastic discs crack after a season of being stepped on
• Can blow away in wind since they have no weighted base

Verdict: A cone set is the highest value-per-dollar item in youth soccer training and belongs in every family's gear bag regardless of the child's age.

Pro Tip: Use two cone colors to mark "cone A to cone B" drills — it teaches younger kids directional dribbling faster than verbal instructions alone.

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Agility Ladder {#agility-ladder}

• Age range: 8–14 (younger children often can't coordinate the footwork patterns)
• Size options: 10-rung, 12-rung, and 20-rung lengths
• Price range: $12–$25

Pros:

• Builds footwork speed and coordination used in cutting and change-of-direction moves
• Rolls up small for storage or travel to practice
• Works for other sports too, so it's not soccer-specific spending

Cons:

• Rungs can shift out of place on uneven grass, tripping younger kids
• Requires video tutorials or a coach's guidance to use footwork patterns correctly at first

Verdict: An agility ladder is worth adding once a child is around 8 years old and already comfortable with basic ball control drills.

Pro Tip: Stake the ladder ends into grass, since a loose ladder is the most common cause of a mid-drill trip.

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Youth Training Soccer Ball {#training-ball}

Age range: 4–14 (ball size should match age, not the child's height or skill level)

• Size options: Size 3 (ages 4–8), Size 4 (ages 8–12), Size 5 (ages 12+)
• Price range: $15–$35

Pros:

• Correct sizing improves control and reduces frustration during shooting drills
• Textured, low-bounce panels help younger kids trap the ball more consistently
• Durable synthetic covers hold up on both grass and pavement

Cons:

• Cheaper balls lose air pressure faster and need frequent re-inflation
• Bright colors and graphics scuff visibly within weeks of driveway use

Verdict: Matching ball size to age group, per US Soccer's official sizing chart, matters more for skill development than any other single purchase on this list.

Pro Tip: Keep a hand pump in the gear bag — a soft, underinflated ball is the most common reason kids say practice "feels off."

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Adjustable Shin Guards {#shin-guards}

Age range: 4–14 (sized by child's height, not age)

• Size options: XS (under 4'0"), S (4'0"–4'6"), M (4'6"–5'0"), L (5'0"+)
• Price range: $10–$25

Pros:

• Required safety equipment in most youth leagues
• Ankle-sleeve styles stay in place better than strap-only models for younger kids
• Lightweight foam options don't restrict running speed

Cons:

• Kids can outgrow a size within a single season of rapid growth
• Cheaper foam compresses and loses protection after heavy use

Verdict: Shin guards aren't optional gear — the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends properly fitted shin guards as a core injury-prevention step for youth soccer players.

Pro Tip: Re-measure your child's shin length at the start of every season rather than assuming last year's size still fits.

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Ball Control Trainer (Dribbling Sleeve/Resistance Band) {#ball-trainer}

Age range: 9–14 (requires enough coordination to benefit from resistance feedback)

• Size options: One-size adjustable waist and ankle straps
• Price range: $15–$30

Pros:

• Builds close-control dribbling by keeping the ball tethered near the child's feet
• Compact enough to use in a garage or small patio on rainy days
• Doubles as a warm-up tool before games

Cons:

• Not useful for kids under about age 9 who haven't developed close-control touch yet
• Tether length needs adjusting as a child grows, which some cheaper models don't allow

Verdict: A ball control trainer is a solid add-on for an older kid already playing club or travel soccer, but it's not a first-purchase item for a beginner.

Pro Tip: Pair 10 minutes of resistance-band dribbling with cone drills for a complete 20-minute solo practice session.

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Full Comparison Table {#comparison-table}

Product	Age Range	Price Range	Best For
Portable Pop-Up Soccer Goals	4–14	$20–$45	Shooting drills, small-sided games
Soccer Rebounder Net	8–14	$40–$90	Solo passing and first-touch control
Disc Cone Set (50-pack)	4–14	$10–$20	Dribbling and agility drills, any age
Agility Ladder	8–14	$12–$25	Footwork speed and coordination
Youth Training Soccer Ball	4–14	$15–$35	Correct ball feel and control by age
Adjustable Shin Guards	4–14	$10–$25	Required safety equipment
Ball Control Trainer (Resistance Band)	9–14	$15–$30	Close-control dribbling for older kids

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FAQ {#faq}

What soccer training equipment does a 6 year old need?

A 6 year old needs a size 3 ball, a small pop-up goal (around 3×2 ft), and a basic set of disc cones — anything more advanced, like an agility ladder, is usually too complex for that age group.

Is an agility ladder worth it for kids?

An agility ladder is worth it for kids around age 8 and up who already have basic ball control, since it builds the footwork coordination used in cutting and change-of-direction moves.

What size soccer ball does my child need?

Ball size should follow US Soccer's age-based sizing chart: Size 3 for ages 4–8, Size 4 for ages 8–12, and Size 5 for ages 12 and up.

Do kids need shin guards for backyard practice?

Shin guards aren't strictly required for casual backyard practice, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends them any time a child is doing contact drills or scrimmages, since they're one of the simplest injury-prevention tools available.

How much should I spend on youth soccer training equipment?

A complete starter set — a pop-up goal pair, a cone set, and a properly sized ball — typically costs $45–$100 total, covering shooting, dribbling, and agility drills without any single expensive purchase.

Final Verdict {#final-verdict}

The best starting setup for most families is a pop-up goal pair, a disc cone set, and a correctly sized training ball, which together cost under $100 and cover shooting, dribbling, and agility work for kids ages 4 to 14. Add a rebounder net and agility ladder once a child turns 8 and is ready for more coordination-heavy drills. Shin guards should be part of the very first purchase regardless of age, since they're a safety item rather than a performance upgrade.

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