Kids football in Hitchin - a Guide for Parents
Hitchin is a charming market town with picturesque streets, charming cafes, and a diverse, friendly community. And if you’re looking for great options for your children to play football, you’ll be pleased to discover there’s a fantastic range opportunities available.
Joining a local football club is a great way for kids to stay physically active, improve their skills, and make new friends within the community. Not only do they get to develop their footballing abilities, but they also learn important values such as teamwork, sportsmanship, and perseverance that will prepare them for life in general!
Below, we’ve put together a handy list of grassroots youth football clubs in Hitchin, to help you with your search for the right place for your child.
Kids football clubs in and around Hitchin
There are a number of different grassroots football clubs that service Hitchin and the surrounding region:
- Hitchin Town Youth – FA Accredited club with over 400 boys and girls. (https://hitchintownyouthfc.com/)
- Hitchin Belles – FA Charter Standard Development Club providing girls football (https://hitchinbelles.com/)
- FC Comets – mainly boys football in Hitchin (http://www.fccomets.org.uk/)
- Bedwell Rangers (Stevenage) – large, FA Chartered Standard Development Club with girls and boys football (https://www.bedwellrangersfc.com/)
- Letchworth Garden City Eagles FC – FA accredited club with girls and boys football (https://www.letchwortheagles.org.uk/)
How to choose the best youth football club for you
The clubs on the list above offer you some great choices for youth football in Hitchin (and the surrounding areas) and are worth checking out! Choosing the right club for your child is an important decision as it can shape their football journey for years to come. Your child may spend many years with the club, making lifelong friends and creating cherished memories. Which one you choose is up to you, but here are a few things to consider.
- Check the practicalities of where the club is based; where they train and play their matches. If you’re going to be attending it for years to come then it will help if it’s convenient for you.
- Next, think about whether your child’s friends already play at a club. Being part of a team with familiar faces can make the experience more enjoyable for them.
- You’ll need to find out whether your preferred club has spaces available for your child’s age group. Many of the above clubs will have a limited number of spaces and, if there’s a club you particularly want to be at, then you might have to join a waiting list. Places will be more likely to become available each September at the start of a new football season.
- It’s a good idea to sample a club to get a feel for it before you fully commit. Clubs usually allow you to attend a few trial sessions to get a feel for their coaching style, the level of play, and the overall atmosphere. When attending a trial session, observe how the coaches interact with the kids – are they happy and encouraging, and is it a welcoming, supportive environment? It’s also worth considering the standard of coaching and facilities available to ensure that your child is receiving quality training and opportunities to develop their skills.
Another great option: Futsal!
Here at Hitchin Futsal, we offer 100% futsal classes, making us a different experience to what’s offered above.
If you haven’t heard of futsal, it’s a high-energy, skill-intensive form of football played indoors that develops ball control, quick decision-making, and teamwork, making it an exciting and valuable activity for kids of all ages and skill levels. Many people come to us wanting to try it as an alternative or an accompaniment to traditional youth football (we have several players from the teams mentioned above that play with us alongside their regular football).
For the youngest kids, we provide a great way to start their journey into football as a whole. Many of the world’s best players (including Messi) played futsal as a child. We take children from 5 years old and make sure they develop a great grounding of the technical aspects to play the game whilst encouraging their interest and enthusiasm for it.
For those who are already playing football, our club can provide a great supplemental activity. By incorporating futsal into your child’s training, they’ll develop a well-rounded set of skills that will help them excel in youth football. Our experienced coaches provide top-quality coaching for kids of all ages and skill levels, in a fun and supportive environment.
From time to time we’ve also had parents approach us with kids who have become disillusioned with football and want to try something different. They’ve often found futsal to be a great alternative for them and it has rekindled a love for football as a whole. At our club we make sessions as active and enjoyable as we can, we focus on skills, and we’re always playing indoors (so no waiting around in the cold and rain!) – these factors can make a difference!
So if you’re looking for a fresh and exciting way for your child to improve their football skills, why not try our futsal club? With sessions available for kids football in Hitchin and the surrounding areas, we’re the perfect complement to traditional football training. Join us today and help your child reach their full potential!