Personalised first football practice book for toddler your child

What happens in your child's First Football Practice

1. Your child gets ready at home with boots and a water bottle.
2. At the park, your child meets the coach and the other children.
3. Your child practises moving the ball through a line of cones.
4. A passing game helps your child take turns with new teammates.
5. Your child joins the final little-sided game and heads home proud of having a go.

How the first page could read

Today is your child's first football practice. The little boots are by the door, the water bottle is filled, and a bright ball waits on the grass. At the park, children are weaving around cones and calling hello. Your child takes a deep breath, then steps through the gate.

Your child’s name, look and little details replace these words, and the whole story is written for their age.

Why this story works

Football practice is full of small firsts for a three- to five-year-old. Your child starts with practical routines—pulling on boots, carrying a water bottle and greeting the coach—before trying simple cone and passing activities. The focus stays on joining in, listening and having another go, rather than being the fastest scorer. Its final little-sided game gives the story a satisfying finish while showing that every player can take a turn. Seeing their own photo illustrated throughout can make the details feel especially close to home. It is well suited to reading before a first session, or afterwards while talking about what happened on the pitch.

Reading it together

• Read it the evening before practice and pause to talk through what your child will pack and wear.
• Point to each activity and ask your child which part they would like to try first.
• After practice, revisit the final game page and let your child tell you about their own turn with the ball.

Suggested art style: Storybook watercolour

Soft watercolour gives the park, kit and busy practice scenes a warm, approachable feel for a young child. A sidekick idea: Pip, a patient little practice ball. You can pick any of the four styles and change the details in the form.