10 Gift Ideas for Soccer Loving Kids

Christmas is just around the corner once again and it'll be here before we know it! If your child is anything like my cousins and I were growing up, they'll be active, competitive and always up for a good run around! As a child, I was a HUGE tomboy, and soccer (or football as we know it in the UK!) was - and still is - my favorite sport.

When it comes to buying gifts for soccer fans, whether they like to play the game or just watch it, there are plenty of options; many of which people may not even think of. Sure, any soccer fan will probably appreciate you buying them the shirt of their favorite team, but why not try buying them a soccer gift that they can make more use of?

This lens gives some ideas for gifts that you can give to any soccer-mad kids you may know. Whether they enjoy playing the sport, or just watching, I'm sure you'll find something that a young starlet can make use of.

Image used under Creative Commons Attribution license from AngryJulieMonday

This is a great item to have for any child who loves to play soccer, whether they are just starting out or want to improve on the skills they already have. The durable tether stretches up to 18 feet, giving your child lots of freedom when it comes to honing their skills and building up their passing and shooting power without fear of breaking any windows!

This Star Kick Soccer Trainer will provide endless hours of fun and can improve confidence in soccer playing children as they can put in extra practice away from the field to improve their skills and coordination.

This sturdy and easy to set up goal is ideal for soccer players of any level to practice and play at home. The Tension-Tite poles snap together easily to create a strong frame, to make it reliable as well as simple to construct. It's portable, so can be set up in the back garden, or taken away on family vacations to keep your children busy and entertained!

This pop-up goal from PUGG is ideal for those who don't want to set up a more sturdy goal in their garden, or would just like to take it on outings so your children can play on travels. Great for taking to the park or the beach to keep kids entertained, this goal pops up with a quick twist and is just as easy to take down. The anchoring pegs work well to keep the goal in place and to make sure it doesn't blow away!

These PUGG goals are also available in sets of two so your children can play competitively against each other, and bigger 6-ft options.

With the help of these cones, your child can learn and develop new skills, improve their pace and dribbling technique, and have unlimited amounts of fun!

They can be set up for the player to dribble around to gain extra practice with having the ball at their feet and keeping control, used as goal posts to practice shooting, or set at distances to improve passing to a target. There really is no limit to what the cones can be used for. A must-have for parents of children who seriously want to improve their game and have fun while doing so.

This indoor soccer set from Diggin is a fun and safe way for children to play soccer in the house. The flat-bottomed ball glides on almost all surfaces and is weighted to ensure that the ball stays low, eliminating the risk of any valuables around the house being broken.

Ideal for use on a rainy day when your child can't play soccer outside, or in the evenings when it's too dark to play out. The goals are small and don't take up much room, making it the perfect solution for the soccer-mad kid to play whenever he wants!

Image used under the Creative Commons Attribution license from luigig.

Soccer is a great team sport for your child to play. Not only does it improve overall fitness, but it can also build social skills and promote good self image.

Soccer develops speed, agility and stamina and also teaches children the importance and value of teamwork. It is the most widely played sport across the world and most countries offer league play for both boys and girls, open to various age groups with some starting as young as five years old.

Soccer is an inclusive sport where teamwork is a must. No single player makes a team, and as a result, involving your child in a soccer league will not only build their social skills (as communication is key), but it will give them a chance to make new friends who have something in common with them. It is a great sport for your child to have fun and build some self confidence, while maintaining a good standard of overall fitness.

FIFA is one of the most popular soccer video games series' there is. Developed by EA sports, FIFA 13 is the most advanced game yet. Containing over 500 authentic clubs and 15,000 players, FIFA 13 is the most realistic virtual soccer game. With incredible graphics and game play, it is available on various gaming platforms.

Highly recommended for young soccer players, this book teaches kids the importance of stretching before games, tips and strategies on improving technique and outlines the rules of the game(including the complicated offside rule!) in a way that they can understand. The perfect read for beginner soccer players, which includes puzzles and games to keep their attention along with illustrations to help them better understand.

If your child is more a fan of watching the game than playing it, why not try this game from the popular Kaskey "Guys" series? This board provides hours of fun, giving children a chance to set up their own games and scenarios. If it's rainy outside, or your child just wants to play with their friends, they will really get a "kick" out of this.

For the soccer player in your child, this is a great accessory to have for practicing various scenarios and explaining things with visual examples. Great for teaching the offside rule and positioning.

Kaskey also makes "Guys" games for other sports, such as hockey, baseball and football.

So, come on... what is it to you?

Who doesn't love popcorn?!

Your soccer-mad kid will love this popcorn popper in the style of a soccer ball. It's easy to use and pops without the use of oil. Great for use at parties and it's sure to impress their friends.

Boost your child's confidence and recognize their talent by getting them their very own trophy! This plastic soccer award can be engraved to personalize it and really make it special. Let your child know that he is the #1 player around! Looks great on any shelf and is sure to give your young superstar a smile.

Are you, or is someone you know, a big soccer fan? Which team is the one to cheer on?