Best Soccer Ball for Toddlers

post title over picture of toddlers playing soccer

Choosing a soccer ball for your toddler is a fun job.

I am a dad. My eldest child has just turned 3, and my youngest is almost 18 months. I know what it’s like to be looking for the best ball for your toddler!

In this article, I’ll share with you the best soccer balls I found and what size ball you should be looking for for your child.

The best soccer balls for toddlers are:

  • Adidas Capitano Soccer Ball
  • Adidas MLS Training Soccer Ball
  • Senda Amador Club Soccer Ball
  • Nike Pitch Premier League Soccer Ball

The reasons why you should choose one of these balls, as well as a link to where you can purchase them, are listed below.

This selection of soccer balls I’ve put together includes soccer balls that will appeal to your toddler as well as you. Because let’s be honest, we both know that our toddlers are going to be far more interested in a brightly-colored soccer ball than the type of design often used on the soccer balls in professional adult soccer!

And at the end of the day, the purpose of getting our kids a soccer ball is for them to use it and enjoy playing with it.

But don’t worry! Despite the “child-friendly” design on some of the balls below, I have made sure that every ball I’ve listed is a great soccer ball in its own right and will be an excellent purchase for your kid.

What Size Soccer Ball Do Toddlers Use?

Table showing soccer ball sizes, circumference, weight
Infographic of soccer ball sizes

When looking for a soccer ball, you need to make sure you purchase the correct size ball for your child.

I’m sure you will have noticed that soccer balls come in a range of sizes from size 1 up to size 5.

Understanding this system can be confusing at first. If you are unsure what the numbers relate to, let me take a moment to explain it, and I think you’ll find it’s not as complicated as you first thought.

Soccer balls come in sizes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Size 1 is the smallest, and size 5 is the largest soccer ball. Each size of ball corresponds to a recommended age group who should be using that ball.

Have a look at the table below to see what age group should be using each size of a soccer ball.

Soccer Ball SizeSoccer Ball CircumferenceSoccer Ball WeightRecommended Age range
118″-20″200g (7oz)N/A
221″-22″250g (9oz)N/A
323″-24″300g (10oz)Ages 8 or younger
425″-26″350g (12oz)Ages 8-12
527″-28″410g (14oz)Ages 12 and older
Size, weight, and recommended age range for soccer balls [source]

You can see from this table what size soccer ball a toddler should be using.

A toddler should use a size 3 soccer ball. With a circumference of 23″-24″ and weighing only 300g (10oz), the size 3 soccer ball is an ideal size for a toddler to use.

Note: You will have noticed in the table above that there is no age range listed for size 1 or 2 soccer balls. This is because size 1 balls are more often used as souvenirs and collectibles, and while size 2 balls do have some value for very small kids, most coaches recommend starting children off with a size 3 soccer ball.

So, what soccer balls should you be considering for your toddler?

Most balls on this list are available on the dedicated soccer website soccer.com. I’ve given a link to each product at the end of each recommendation.

If you’ve not used or heard of this soccer retailer before, I would encourage you to try them out, as this family-owned business offers some great prices, offers, and delivery options.

The advantage of being a soccer-only retailer is that they are dedicated to the sport and know what their customers need and want.

When you purchase a ball, remember to select size 3 and be aware that soccer balls are almost always shipped deflated to keep shipping costs down.

If you don’t have a pump and needle to inflate the ball once it arrives, you can pick up this one from Amazon.

This will have your new soccer ball inflated and ready to be played in no time!

1. Adidas Capitano Soccer Ball

My number 1 recommendation for a soccer ball for your toddler would be the adidas Capitano Soccer Ball.

In design, it strikes a great balance between looking like a traditional soccer ball but has giant colored areas on it that your toddler, if they are anything like mine, will enjoy watching going round and round as the ball rolls across the ground.

These colorful high-contrast graphics are actually a specifically designed feature of the ball to help players track the ball as it moves across the soccer field.

Conveniently, it helps toddlers follow the ball, too!

Other than the design, the ball is a high-quality, well-made product. It is comfortable to kick, unlike other balls out there that feel hard whenever you make contact with the ball. Because my toddler is still small, I try to avoid any balls that are too hard and may hurt.

The ball is manufactured to a high standard and even has a reinforced rubber bladder inside the ball to prevent the ball from deflating over time.

If I were to buy a ball for my toddler right now, this is the one I would buy.

Click on the button below to check out the ball and price on Amazon.com. You’ll see it has multiple 5-star reviews as well.

2. Adidas MLS Training Soccer Ball

My second recommendation for a soccer ball for your toddler would be the Adidas MLS Training Soccer Ball.

As you can see from the image above, this ball also has plenty of bright colors to keep your toddler interested in playing with it, but at the same time, it looks stylish enough for you to play with it, too!

This design of this ball is based on the design of the official game ball for the 2021 Major League Soccer season.

This ball feels good and should be comfortable for your toddler to kick around with you or on their own. The material it’s made of is also really easy to clean. So there’s no need to worry about the ball rolling through all those muddy puddles!

The ball is really well-made and durable product and should provide plenty of hours of fun for you and your toddler.

Check out my suggested list of soccer games to play with your kids in my article – 8 Best Kindergarten Soccer Drills: Grow Their Love for the Game.

Click on the button below to check out the ball and price on soccer.com. You’ll see this ball also has multiple 5-star reviews.

3. Senda Amador Club Soccer Ball

The color of this ball will stand out above every other ball on this list. The Senda Amador Club Soccer Ball is bright yellow because it is designed to be used in the winter snow, but kids will love it at any time of year!

Apart from being attractive to toddlers, this ball has 3 other stand-out features.

  1. It is designed with a special foam backing for a noticeably softer touch. The balls we’ve looked at so far are softer to the touch than many other balls, but this ball takes it to another level by making this feature a priority in the design.
  2. It is Fair Trade certified. This means there is no child labor involved in the production of the ball. The health and safety of workers are safeguarded, and everyone involved in the manufacture of this ball receives a fair wage for their labor.
  3. The ball is manufactured to a high standard. The stitching, seams, and materials involved in producing this ball are of a much higher standard than many balls out there, and this ball should stand the test of time.

Click on the button below to check out the ball and price on soccer.com.

4. Nike Pitch Premier League Soccer Ball

The last ball I want to recommend to you is the Nike Pitch Premier League Soccer Ball.

I choose to add this to the list because not only is it a great soccer ball, but it is a bright and colorful ball in a different way than the bright yellow ball above. Both boys and girls will love the colors on this ball!

This ball is another that is a high-quality ball in its own right. Nike has produced great products for a long time and there’s no doubt they know what they are doing.

It is soft to the touch, meaning it’s perfect for your toddler and travels accurately as it moves across the ground. It is also designed to be durable and cope with all the use a toddler will give it.

Click on the button below to check out the ball and price on soccer.com.

Once you’ve chosen the best ball why not check out my article – Soccer Equipment for Toddlers – to check you have everything you need to help your toddler enjoy playing.

Bonus Soccer Ball Option

I hadn’t planned on adding this ball to the list, but as I was writing this article, I thought it would be a fun option to end with.

The GlowCity Light Up LED Soccer Ball is a lot of fun, especially for a toddler!

This ball lights upon impact! Whenever someone touches it, the smart LED bulbs light up instantly and stay on for the next 30 seconds. The lights are surprisingly bright and can be seen a few hundred yards away.

The ball comes with batteries and a 60-day hassle-free repair/replacement guarantee and could be just the ball you need to play in the dark with your toddler before bed or on those dark winter mornings!

Click on the button below to check out this ball on Amazon!

Recommendations

For more soccer recommendations for your toddler, I have put together a list of the Best Soccer Cleats for Toddlers. And if you are looking for advice on how to be the best soccer parent you can be, have a look at my Top 11 Tips for Soccer Parents.

Ben Clayfield

Hi! My name's Ben. I've played, watched, read about, and enjoyed soccer throughout my life. I really enjoy finding out more about the game I love and sharing it with you all. Find out more about me here - Ben Clayfield

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