Back to School Sale: use code SAVE15 for $15 off fall classes — through Sept 15

Find Your Child's Class

Tell us a little about your child and we'll point you to the best fit.

1Which season?
3When was your child born?
Pick your location first and we'll match your child to what's offered nearby.

Or browse our class descriptions

Colors group our three program families.

Parent & child Independent development Skills Institute

Bunnies

18–24 months

Parent/Child Class

Your toddler's first class, right on the field with you. Sensory games with bubbles, parachutes and cones build balance, coordination and a love of moving.

More about Bunnies

Bunnies is a gentle introduction to soccer for our youngest players. Together on the field, you and your child run, chase and kick through games with parachutes, bubbles, cones and lots of goal-scoring, building balance, coordination and a love of moving. An adult plays alongside each child. Classes are 50 minutes.

Thumpers

2–3 years

Parent/Child Class

Where your child starts actively engaging with the coach and the group. With you alongside, they build listening, balance and early ball skills.

More about Thumpers

In Thumpers, kids begin actively engaging with a coach and the group. Through organized games, with you by their side, they build listening skills, balance, ball control and foot-eye coordination. It's a perfect first class, and a natural next step for kids who've done Bunnies. Classes are 50 minutes.

Cottontails

2.5–3.5 years

Parent/Child Class

For kids almost ready to play on their own. You start on the field, then step back over the weeks as their confidence grows.

More about Cottontails

Cottontails is for children who aren't quite ready to be on the field alone. The class builds fundamentals like balance, coordination and ball skills while gently fostering independence. You start on the field and, week by week over the course of the session, ease into a less active role as your child grows more confident. Classes are 50 minutes.

Hoppers

3–4 years

Beginner Level

Kids take the field on their own for fun games that build coordination and first soccer skills. No experience needed.

More about Hoppers

In Hoppers, children play independently. You cheer from the sideline while they take the field with their coach. Every child has their own ball, and sessions focus on balance, coordination and fundamental soccer skills. It's a great fit for kids new to soccer, especially younger or first-time players. Classes are 50 minutes.

Jackrabbits

3–4 years

Intermediate Level

Team games and mini-scrimmages for kids who love to run, chase and score. A first taste of playing together.

More about Jackrabbits

Jackrabbits introduces non-competitive team play. Through one-ball games and light scrimmaging, kids learn to play together while sharpening their skills. It's ideal for children who are naturally more competitive or who already have some class experience. Classes are 50 minutes.

Micro 4/5

4–5 years

Intermediate Level

Creative games and weekly scrimmages that grow real soccer skills while keeping it all about fun.

More about Micro 4/5

Micro 4/5 is for players ready for a bigger challenge. Through creative, skill-building games and scrimmages, which start from week one, kids develop more advanced fundamentals. The pace is quicker and the games more challenging, but it's still playful, creative soccer, not formal technical training. Classes are 50 minutes.

Big Feet

5–6 years

Beginner Level

A no-pressure introduction to organized soccer: silly, confidence-building games with zero experience needed.

More about Big Feet

Big Feet is for kids just getting introduced to organized soccer, or those who are less competitive by nature. It's full of fun, goofiness and low-pressure learning, with scrimmages introduced gradually later in the session. No experience needed, and everyone gets in the game. Classes are 50 minutes.

SI Level 1

5/6 · 7/8 · 9/10

Beginner Level · Coed

Weekly training in the fundamentals of dribbling, passing and shooting, and how to use them in a game.

More about SI Level 1

SI Level 1 is the start of our Skills Institute technical track. Players focus on the fundamentals of development: dribbling, passing, shooting and trapping, and how to use them in a game, through weekly skill-building and friendly competitive play. Great for players getting ready for recreational or club soccer. Classes are 50 minutes.

SI Level 2

5/6 · 7/8 · 9/10

Intermediate Level · Coed

Sharpens technique, positioning and game smarts for players who already have the basics down.

More about SI Level 2

SI Level 2 is for players who've completed Level 1 or have prior club experience. The focus shifts to refining individual technique, positioning, strategy, speed and agility, and understanding how personal strengths enhance team play. Builds real soccer IQ. Classes are 50 minutes.

SI Level 3

5/6 · 7/8 · 9/10

Advanced · Coed

Position-specific training, strategy and speed for advanced players. By invitation or evaluation.

More about SI Level 3

SI Level 3 is our advanced program, featuring position-specific training and deeper strategy. Players build speed, agility and game understanding while developing their attacking and defending skills. Placement is by invitation or evaluation. Classes are 50 minutes.

SI All Girls

5–8 years

Beginner/Intermediate · select locations

Girls build soccer skills and confidence together in an encouraging, all-girls setting led by female coaches.

More about SI All Girls

SI All Girls is designed specifically for girls and led by our top female coaches. In a supportive, encouraging environment, players build confidence, resilience and soccer skills together. Offered at select locations. Classes are 50 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to help you find the right class and get started.

Choosing the right class

What age can my child start soccer at Lil' Kickers?

Children can start as young as 18 months in our Bunnies class, and our programs run all the way through age 10. Every class is grouped by age and readiness, so there is a fit for each stage from toddler to grade-schooler.

How do I know which class is right for my child?

Enter your child's birthday and location in the finder above and we will match them to their best-fit class in about 30 seconds. Placement is based on age and how comfortable your child is, not on skill, so no soccer experience is needed.

My child has never played soccer. Which class should they start in?

That is completely fine, most kids start with no experience at all. The finder will point you to the right beginner-friendly class for their age, such as Hoppers for a young 3 or 4 year old or Big Feet for a new 5 or 6 year old.

What is the difference between Hoppers and Jackrabbits?

Hoppers is for beginning 3 and 4 year olds and focuses on individual skills, with each child playing on their own ball. Jackrabbits is the intermediate step for that age, bridging individual skills into light team play and small scrimmages.

What is the difference between Big Feet and the Skills Institute for a 5 or 6 year old?

Big Feet is a playful, low-pressure introduction to organized soccer, where scrimmages come later in the session, which makes it a great fit for a newer or shyer child. Skills Institute Level 1 is the start of our technical track, working on dribbling, passing and shooting, and it is a good beginner option too, no experience needed.

Do you offer all-girls soccer classes?

Yes. Our Skills Institute All Girls classes are for ages 5 to 8 and are led by female coaches in a supportive, all-girls setting. They are offered at select locations, and the finder will show you if one runs near you.

What is the Skills Institute?

The Skills Institute is our technical development track for players ages 5 to 10, split into levels so kids train with peers at the same stage. It builds real soccer skills like dribbling, passing and game awareness, and is a great path toward recreational or club soccer.

Getting started

Do you offer a free trial class?

Yes. Every new family gets one free trial class per child, so you can see how your child likes it before you enroll. You can book a free trial right from your best-fit class in the finder above.

How much do classes cost, and is there a membership fee?

Class fees vary by program and session length, and you will see the exact price for each class when you register. New families also pay an annual membership, $45 for one child or $80 per family, collected once a year. Your membership includes your child's uniform and access to make-up classes.

What should my child wear and bring?

Comfortable clothes they can move in, plus indoor soccer shoes or gym shoes, no cleats. Shin guards are recommended for Micro and Skills Institute classes. Bring a water bottle, since there is a water break about halfway through each 50-minute class.

Do I need to stay during my child's class?

Yes, a parent or caregiver stays onsite for every class. In our youngest classes you are right on the field with your child, and in the independent classes you cheer from the sideline while the coach leads.

Where are your locations, and which are indoor or outdoor?

We have 13 locations across the Chicago area and the Milwaukee suburbs. Pick your location in the finder above and it will match your child to the classes actually offered there.

Chicago (City)

  • Roscoe Village Indoor, year-round
  • Wicker Park / Bucktown (Holstein Park) Outdoor, spring to fall
  • Edgewater (Senn Park) Outdoor, spring to fall

North Suburbs

  • Morton Grove (NorthShore) Indoor, year-round
  • Vernon Hills (RiverTree Court) Indoor, year-round
  • West Dundee (OrthoIllinois Fieldhouse) Indoor, year-round
  • Northbrook (Fox Meadow Park) Outdoor, spring to fall

West / South Suburbs

  • Roselle / Schaumburg (Cross Creek Commons) Indoor, year-round
  • McCook / LaGrange (The Max) Indoor, year-round
  • Oak Park (Oak Park Varsity Club) Indoor, year-round

Milwaukee Suburbs (Wisconsin)

  • Glendale (Delta Sports Performance) Indoor, year-round
  • New Berlin (Burghardt Sporting Goods) Indoor, winter only
  • Brookfield (The Richardson School) Outdoor, spring to fall
Can we join mid-session, and when do new sessions start?

Yes. We have open enrollment, so you can join anytime and your fee is prorated for the classes remaining in the session. We run four sessions a year in 10 to 14 week cycles, so there is almost always a good time to start.

What happens if we miss a class?

You can schedule a make-up class online at any of our locations. Make-ups are an annual membership benefit. Note that they do not carry over into future sessions, so use them within the same session.

Do you offer sibling or multi-class discounts?

Yes. There is a $25 discount for each additional child in a family, and a $20 discount for each additional class a child takes per week. Both are applied when you register.

About the program

What makes Lil' Kickers different from other youth soccer?

For more than 20 years we have used soccer to build the whole child, developing confidence, listening and social skills alongside real soccer fundamentals, all through age-appropriate, play-based classes. It is child development first, with the soccer skills following naturally.

What if my child is not ready to be on the field without me?

That is very normal, and our coaches are wonderful at easing kids in. Younger classes keep you on the field, and classes like Cottontails are designed so you start alongside your child and step back gradually as their confidence grows.

Still have a question? See our full FAQ or email us and we will help you find the right fit.