Little Kickers takes big step

LITTLE Kickers Northern Rivers is expanding into Ballina in 2025.

Michael Westbrook, who is director of Little Kickers Gold Coast and Northern Rivers, said he plans to have sessions running in the area by June.

The program has operated on and off in Tweed Heads and Ocean Shores since 2010, and restarted with Westbrook at the helm in 2023.

Designed to introduce children aged 18 months up to eight years to the world of soccer, the program has an imagination and play-based ethos.

“Our focus is to create a love for the sport at a foundational level, so children want to continue to play not only soccer but sport in general,” Westbrook said.

“We make our sessions fun and creative, creating themes such as Paw Patrol, Toy Story, jungle and superheroes to ensure children are engaged and having a good time.”

Parents enrol their children for one session per week on a month-by-month basis.

“We are one of the only programs that operates year-round,” Westbrook said.

Westbrook, who has been a coach for nine years, said he enjoyed being a role model in children’s lives, contributing to their early development and seeing them break through mental and physical barriers.

“I have never left a session feeling worse than when I went in,” he said.

“Myself and many Little Kickers coaches have countless stories of children overcoming fears, building confidence and excelling in the program — children that began the program in tears, kicking and screaming and then three months later are running into sessions yelling the coach’s name and giving them a big high five.

“It’s a fun introduction to sport but as it also has consistent structure each week, so it’s a fantastic way to prepare children for school and other structured programs they will later venture into.”

For more information email [email protected] or phone 0401 733 033.