Tips for Taking Kids to a Football Game

Most football fans develop a thing for the sport at a young age. Watching a live football game as a child is unforgettable, and as a parent, it’s one way to create life-long memories for and with your children. What it will do is help them discover their interest in the sport, which will stick with them for a long time.

As exciting and memorable as this may seem, taking young children to a football game has challenges. You’ll have to help them deal with large crowds and keep them entertained for the duration of the match, which may affect how much fun you get to have. The lack of proper planning can turn a well-meaning and potentially fun-filled trip into a stressful one.

Careful planning is essential to making the experience enjoyable for all parties. This article will help you through every step to make it hassle-free, from choosing the right game and securing the best seats to packing the right essentials. Stay glued and learn how to make your children’s trip to a football game seamless!

Choosing the Right Game

The first step to making your child’s football trip memorable is choosing the right game. This requires more planning than picking a game at random. The right match can make the experience fun and family-friendly, while the wrong choice may lead to stress and disappointment.

The following factors can help you choose the right game, making your children’s trip to a football game more enjoyable:

Consider Your Child’s Age and Comfort Level

The general rule of thumb is that young children should not be involved in intense matches involving loud crowds and hostile atmospheres. Choosing a lower-stakes match is always best, especially if it’s your child’s first game at a stadium. For example, it may be best to sit it out if the game is a derby between rival teams like Manchester United vs Manchester City or Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona. Also, choose the best kick-off time, like afternoon games rather than late evening matches, which can affect their bedtime schedule.

Choose Family-Friendly Fixtures

Another important thing to do for your child’s comfort is choosing a family-friendly fixture. Many football clubs tag some matches as “family-friendly” because they have a more relaxed atmosphere, making them perfect for children. These games are usually played on weekends and often include family-friendly activities like mascot meet-and-greets, stadium tours, and other activities kids may like. If you’re unsure which game to choose, check the club’s official website for more information on which games are best for families.

Check Stadium Facilities

Always research a stadium’s family-friendly features before buying matchday tickets. Some stadiums, such as Old Trafford in England, Wanda Metropolitano in Spain, and the Allianz Stadium in Italy, offer dedicated family stands with a more relaxed atmosphere. Some venues even provide child-friendly features like baby changing and quieter rest areas. Always consider this option when planning a trip for your children to watch a live football game.

Choose the Best Seats for Families

Never sit close to the pitch when you’re with your kids for a football game. The noise can make them very uncomfortable, especially when they have zero tolerance for it. Always opt for seats in the family stands or somewhere you can get a good view but still far from the noise. This can significantly impact your child’s experience.

Buying Tickets Safely and Securely

After identifying the game you want to watch with your kids, buying your football tickets safely and securely is next. As we all know, buying football tickets is stressful, especially if you’re new to the system and don’t want to fall victim to ticket scams.

Book Early for the Best Seats

Booking your football tickets early is the key to finding the best seats, so don’t waste time. When booking, make sure you choose a family-friendly seating area, which is always quieter. Another advantage of early booking is that it lets you plan other aspects of the trip without worrying. This is essential to your trip, so don’t save it for last.

Use Trusted Third-Party Providers Like Visitfootball

If you use a third-party provider to get your tickets, always choose Visitfootball. It’s no longer news that scammers take advantage of football fans to overprice tickets or even rob them of their hard-earned money. For this reason, always avoid issues by purchasing from official club websites or a trusted third-party platform like Visitfootball. The brand offers secure and authentic tickets for football matches, providing a reliable way for families to book seats without worrying about fraud.

Understanding Seating Options

One of the best things about researching a venue you’re planning to visit is that you’ll get a proper understanding of the seating options available at the stadium. As mentioned earlier, choosing the right seating options can make a big difference when watching a game with kids. Here is a breakdown of what most stadiums offer:

• General seating: This is the most popular section in the stadium. It has standard seats all across the venue. However, some areas are more crowded or loud than others. If you’re going to watch football games with your kids, it’s best to avoid the general seating option.
• Family sections: Not all stadiums have this option. However, for stadiums that do, it’s the best for family trips. That’s because these sections provide a more relaxed setting, leaving kids without too much noise or the crowd madness going on in the general part of the venue.
• VIP or hospitality seats: This stadium part is reserved for high-end fans. It is usually more expensive but provides extra comfort, better views, and food options. If you have extra money to spare in return for your kids having the best stadium experience, it might be an incredible option to consider.

Ticket Delivery

The world is moving on from paper-based tickets, but they still exist. However, if you’re going to a game with your children, digital tickets are always the best because they’re a more convenient option, and with them, you don’t have to worry about ticket loss. Always check the delivery method when buying a football ticket to ensure a seamless experience.

Preparing for Matchday

We can’t stress enough how important proper preparation is to the success of a football outing with kids. You must get everything right to ensure their comfort and leave them with an amazing experience and a life-long memory.

Pack Essentials

Endeavor to bring the right items along to help keep your kids comfortable throughout the match. Some key essentials to pack include:

• Snacks and Drinks: Snacks and drinks are essentials you must pack for a football game with your children. Although some clubs don’t allow people to bring food from outside, as they have a canteen that caters to such needs, others don’t care much. Research the venue to know what’s allowed and what’s not. Even if you won’t be packing them from home, ensure you get them at the venue so the kids have enough to keep their stomachs busy during the game.
• Ear Protection: Football stadiums are extremely loud, which can be unbearable and uncomfortable for children. Kids can benefit from noise-canceling headphones or earplugs.
• Weather-Appropriate Clothing: Stadium weather can be unpredictable. Sometimes, they can be windy, cold, or even too hot, depending on the season. Always bring extra layers, raincoats, and gloves if needed. When attending a match in the summer, get the kids some hats and sunscreen.
• SmallActivitiesforDowntime: Half-time breaks can be very boring for children, so you must have something planned for them. Bring handheld toys, coloring pages, or small books to entertain them during the break.

Travel Planning

You must plan your trip because getting to the stadium smoothly is as important as the match. For that reason, you must consider the following when planning your trip:

• Arrive Early: Football venues get crowded, so allowing early gives you enough time to settle in with the kids. Doing this will make it easy for you to find your seats, thus avoiding last-minute stress. If you’re going to see a game with kids, it’s always important to arrive early because you don’t want to stress the kids out before the game kicks off.
• Public Transport vs Driving: You must consider public transport because many stadiums have limited parking. This may be the better option. Check local transport schedules and any potential road closures to stay informed before deciding. Always keep the kids in mind when making any decision.
• Parking Tips: If you’re ditching public transport and opting for driving, try as much as possible to research parking areas near the stadium. Some venues usually offer family-friendly parking zones closer to stadium entrances, making it easy for you and the kids to find your way inside the stadium.

Safety Considerations

Keeping your children safe at a crowded stadium must always be your priority, especially when it’s a big game. Here are some important precautions you must adopt to ensure everything goes smoothly:

• Set a Meeting Point: In a rare but possible case of separation, set a meeting point where your children can go if they get lost. Show them this point before the game and ensure they properly understand what they’re supposed to do in this case. Make sure it’s a landmark inside or outside the stadium.
• Use Emergency Contact Information: Write your phone number on a small, safe card to prevent a bigger issue. Put it in your children’s pockets if they need help finding you after separation. This will help any adult nearby reach you.

Keeping Kids Engaged During the Game

Let’s face it; 90 minutes is a long time to keep a child’s attention, especially when the child is young or new to the sport. One of the things you must prioritize is keeping them engaged through the experience since the trip is more for them than you. This will make the day more enjoyable for all parties. Here’s a breakdown of things they can do during the game:

• Visit Fan Zones: Before kickoff, you can take the kids to the club’s dedicated fan zone, where they can participate in family-friendly activities like a small football game, interactive exhibits, and face painting. These activities can help the kids build anticipation before the game begins.
• Meet the Mascot: Every club has a dedicated mascot, so this may be the perfect opportunity to familiarize the kids with this idea by letting them take pictures and interact with it. It can be the highlight of their day.
• Explain What’s Happening: If your kid is new to football, they might not understand what’s happening before them, so you may have to talk them through it. Explain the game to them, like when a player makes a pass or a card is issued for a foul. This will help them better understand the game and make them look forward to watching another match with you.
• Allow Short Breaks: Children have short attention spans, so there’s no ruling out how the game may bore them out at some point. When this happens, let them take short breaks, like going to the canteen to grab a snack or play with one of the handheld toys you’ve packed for them.
• Explore the Stadium: Saving the best for last. If your ticket package includes a tour of the stadium, it’ll be an incredible opportunity for the kids to learn about the club’s history physically. Check out the trophy room, where some of the club’s best trophies are displayed. You can also check out mini-museums or viewing areas that can help keep the kids active.

Exiting the Stadium and Post-Match Plans

The final whistle shouldn’t spell the end of your children’s experience. There are more fun things you can do before heading home, but firstly, you’ll want to get the kids out of the stadium safely because it’s always chaotic at the end of the game, depending on the outcome. Below are some safety tips for exiting the stadium without any stress:

• Leave Minutes Early: Since you’re not watching the game alone and have little kids to look out for, it might be best to leave the game before it ends. This is to avoid large crowds and long queues for transport.
• Hold Hands and Stay Close: Never leave your kids’ hands when navigating out of the match venue. Leaving the stadium after a game might be daunting, especially with a large crowd. Kids can feel overwhelmed and lose their way. This is a good reason to keep a firm grip on their hands and move at a normal pace.
• Follow Staff Instructions: Most stadiums have designated exit routes with staff assigned to direct fans through each one. Follow these instructions for a quicker and safer exit.

Conclusion

One thing about football is that, regardless of age, everyone loves it. So when your kids show interest in the sport early, one of the best things you can do to light up that fire is to take them to a football game. However, this is not as easy as it may sound. Taking kids to a football game can be stressful because it requires proper planning.

You should ensure your child is safe, entertained, and comfortable when going on this trip. This article highlights some tips for taking kids to a football game, such as packing essentials, adopting safety precautions, keeping them entertained, and more.

Don’t forget to choose Visitfootball when purchasing your football tickets from a trusted source!