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9 Things Every Parent Should Know Before Booking a Football Party

  • colonelvern
  • Jun 9
  • 3 min read
ree

Planning your child’s birthday party can be both exciting and a little overwhelming. If you're considering a football-themed party, you're already on the right track—kids love it, it gets them active, and it’s a brilliant way to burn off all that birthday cake energy!

But before you book, here are 10 essential things every parent should know to make sure the day runs smoothly and your child (and their friends) has the best time ever.


1. Not All Football Parties Are Created Equal

Some providers just set up cones and let kids run wild for an hour. Others—like us—deliver structured, age-appropriate, high-energy sessions that mix fun, football, and party magic. Before booking, ask:

  • Who leads the session?

  • Are they qualified and experienced with children?


2. Check the Coach’s Credentials

Your child’s safety and experience matter. Ensure the coach or organiser is:

  • DBS-checked

  • FA-qualified

  • First-aid trained

  • Experienced with the age group you're booking for

Bonus points for coaches who know how to manage mixed abilities, shy kids, and high-energy ones!


3. Tailor the Party to the Age Group

A party for 6-year-olds looks very different from one for 12-year-olds. Make sure the session is tailored to suit the group’s age, attention span, and energy levels.For example:

  • Ages 5–7 need lots of variety, encouragement, and fun mini-games

  • Ages 8–10 enjoy more structure and friendly competition

  • Ages 11–13 love tournaments and team tactics


4. Know What’s Included (and What’s Not)

Ask the provider what’s actually part of the package. Some questions to ask:

  • Is the venue included, or do you need to hire one separately?

  • Do they bring goals, bibs, balls, and cones?

  • Are party invites, medals, or certificates included?

  • Can they help with food or cake?

Clear answers = fewer surprises later.


5. Venue Matters More Than You Think

Indoor or outdoor? 3G or grass? Local park or private hall?Make sure:

  • There’s a wet weather plan

  • It’s safe, enclosed, and easy to access

  • There’s parking and toilets

  • You can stay and watch (if you want to!)

If the company doesn’t provide the venue, they should be able to recommend suitable local options.


6. Mixed Abilities? No Problem (With the Right Coach)

Not every child is a football superstar—and that’s okay! The best coaches make sure everyone feels included, whether they play every weekend or have never kicked a ball before.Look for parties that focus on:

  • Fun over winning

  • Teamwork over goals

  • Confidence over competition


7. Medals & Prizes Add Magic

Kids love a bit of sparkle at the end of the day!Find out if the party includes:

  • Medals or trophies

  • Certificates for all participants

These little extras can make the experience feel truly special.


8. Timing Is Everything

Football parties usually last 60–90 minutes. Factor in:

  • Arrival and warm-up time

  • Food or cake after the session

  • Pack-down/clean-up time if you're hiring a venueIf you’re inviting younger children, earlier in the day tends to work better—energy dips after 3pm are real!


9. Ask About Backup Plans

Kids + British weather = potential chaos.Check if the party organiser:

  • Has an indoor venue as a backup

  • Offers rescheduling or refund policies

  • Can run modified games in poor conditions



Flexibility is key—and makes you look like a planning genius!


✅ Final Tip: Book Early!

Good football party providers get snapped up—especially on weekends and during the school holidays. Once you have a date in mind, reach out early to avoid disappointment.


Ready to Kick Off the Perfect Birthday?

We offer football parties packed with fun, energy, and personalised touches to make your child’s big day unforgettable. Whether it’s their 6th birthday or their final pre-teen hurrah, we’ve got you covered.

Contact us today to check availability or ask any questions—no pressure, just friendly advice.

 
 
 

Comments

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is this party service for? Our football parties are perfect for children aged 5 to 12 years old, whether they’re brand-new to the game or already pulling out stepovers in the playground. Because we’ve been delivering fantastic football parties since 2003, we know exactly how to keep every age/ability smiling, running and celebrating their way through the big day. 2. What happens at a Kids Football Party? Here’s what’s included: A brilliant, UEFA qualified football coach (fully safety-checked) All equipment supplied — goals, balls, cones, and fun extras High-energy skill games Mini tournaments An awards presentation with a special gift and card for the birthday child and certificates for all children (optional medals and trophy too!) A stress-free experience for parents — you bring the kids, we bring the magic! 3. What kinds of venues do you use? Can we pick our own? Absolutely! You can either choose your own venue or let us recommend tried-and-tested indoor halls, astro pitches, sports halls or grass pitches. Outdoor parties are brilliant in dry weather, but indoor options are great year-round. Travel fees may apply — we’ll let you know when you enquire. 4. How many children can join the party? What if more turn up? Our standard package includes up to 20 children, and you can add extras for a small additional cost. If more guests arrive unexpectedly — it happens! — we’ll do our best to accommodate safely. Any extra costs or coach-to-child ratio requirements will be explained upfront. 5. What should children wear? Good news — you don’t need fancy kit! Trainers are suitable for almost all our parties. Football boots can be worn for grass or astro venues. Dress for the weather for outdoor venues! Comfortable sportswear is perfect: T-shirt, shorts or tracksuit bottoms. 6. What do parents need to provide? Just bring the children, refreshments and enthusiasm! We provide the football fun, equipment and coaching — you supply: Venue hire (if it’s your choice) Drinks, snacks or a birthday buffet Cake (very important!) Many parents order pizza or party platters for delivery after the final whistle — totally your choice. 7. What age-levels and abilities can you cater for? We specialise in mixed-ability fun. Whether your child is football-mad or football-shy, our coaches adapt games so every child feels included, confident and part of the team. 8. How long does a session last? Our standard session is 90 minutes, which includes warm-ups, football games, a match and a presentation. Some venues only allow an hour — no problem at all! We also offer 60-minute sessions where required. 9. How do we book? What’s your cancellation policy? Booking is simple — contact us with your preferred date, venue and number of guests. We’ll check coach availability and confirm everything with full details. Our cancellation policy: 👉 We require 14 days’ notice for a full refund. Less than 14 days means we’ll try to reschedule, but refunds aren’t guaranteed due to coach allocation and venue commitments. 10. What if the weather is terrible? For outdoor venues, we always recommend having a backup plan in case the weather pulls a fast one. Typical options: Move to an indoor venue you’ve arranged Reschedule (subject to availability) Your child’s safety comes first — we’ll discuss options with you. 11. Can parents stay and watch? Yes! Parents are always welcome to watch from the sidelines — some even join in the cheering, chanting or (very brave) team-talking. 12. My child isn’t very confident — will they still enjoy it? Absolutely. Our sessions are built on positivity, encouragement and fun. Children don’t need football experience to enjoy the party — the games are designed so every child can shine. 13. What about trophies, medals or party bags? The birthday star gets a special gift and card, and the games finish with a mini-presentation. If you'd like additional medals, trophies or party bags, just ask — we can help with recommendations or add-ons. 14. What areas do you cover? We operate across a wide range of UK locations. If your venue is a bit further afield, we’ll let you know whether a small travel fee applies. 15. How much does it cost? We offer packages to suit different budgets. Prices vary depending on location, duration and group size. Contact us for a quick quote — it’s free, easy and we respond fast. 16. How much time do we need to set up? Our coaches will only need a couple of minutes to set up for your fantastic party and will arrive at your venue a minimum of 10mins before the party start time. 17. What if fewer or more children come than expected? No worries — sessions run smoothly with any reasonable numbers. Fewer children: session runs as normal More children: we’ll manage safely and discuss any additional costs 18. How far in advance should we book? We recommend booking at least 4–6 weeks ahead for weekend slots. Last-minute? Try us anyway — we’ll do our best to help! 19. Are the coaches qualified and DBS-checked? Yes. All coaches are UEFA qualified, DBS-checked and reference-checked. Safety is our top priority. 20. Do you take photographs or videos? Only with your permission. If you'd rather your child isn’t included, simply let us know when booking. 21. What happens if the coach is unavailable on the day? If illness or emergency strikes, we’ll find a replacement coach where possible. If we can’t, we’ll offer rescheduling or a refund. We always communicate openly and promptly and thankfully this only happens very, very (very) rarely! 22. Can we customise the party theme? Of course! Whether it’s girls-only, mixed groups, Premier League-themed or World Cup madness, we tailor activities to your child’s interests. 23. What makes your parties different? Since 2003, we’ve run over 2,000 parties Professional, enthusiastic, qualified coaches (not inexperienced, unqualified ‘referees’) Fun-first approach for all ability levels Fully inclusive games and high-energy tournaments Parents consistently tell us it’s the “best party ever!” 24. How do the invitations work? As soon as your booking is confirmed, you’ll receive an editable invitation template via email. You can: Add your own details Send it digitally Print it and hand it out Quick, simple and party-ready!

© 2025 by Kids Football Parties.

Contact us for further details.

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