Rugby vs Football for Kids : Which Is Better for Your Child?

​Introduction

As parents, we're constantly seeking activities that will help our toddlers and young children develop crucial physical and social skills, but when it comes to choosing a sport for them, the options can feel overwhelming. Football might seem like the default choice - it's popular, widely understood, and seemingly straightforward. But what if there's a sport that offers even more comprehensive developmental benefits?

Enter rugby - specifically, non-contact rugby at Rugrats. In this post, we'll break down why rugby might just be the superior choice for your little one’s social, behavioural and motor skills development.

The Motor Skills Showdown: Rugby vs Football

When it comes to your child’s development, nothing is more important, and choosing the right sport to aid their physical development is crucial. Let’s take a look at what they can expect to gain via football in comparison to rugby. 

⚽️ Football: Football is, as you may have guessed, all about footwork! While kicking is important, focussing purely on this skill severely limits the range of movements a child experiences during their formative years. Of course, there will be elements of other core movement, but these are very much restricted and take a back seat. Put simply, your footballing child will develop superior lower half capabilities, but little else:

• Foot-eye coordination
• Linear movement
• Balance and weight transfer
• Stationary ball control
• Teamwork skills
• Learning to follow basic instructions

Let’s now compare this to rugby…

🏉 Rugby: Rugby requires a diverse set of movements throughout and looks at physical elements that football barely touches:

• Hand-eye coordination
• Foot-eye coordination
• Multidirectional movement
• Dynamic ball handling
• Balance and weight transfer
• Reaction time development
• Strategic thinking
• Evasion techniques
• Genuine teamwork skills
• Learning to follow detailed instructions

​These varied movements engage more muscle groups and neural pathways, providing a more comprehensive physical development experience. Put simply, rugby wins hands down when it comes to your child’s core motor skills.

The Emotional & Behaviour Showdown: Rugby vs Football

As we all know though, child development is not just physical, it’s emotional as well as behavioural, and this is where rugby really does come to the fore.

Spend two minutes watching a kids football match and compare this to what you’ll see at a kids rugby match and you really will see how the two sports differ. Without wanting to over exaggerate things - this is the real reason I got into rugby coaching, because the choices YOU make for them at the developmental stage, will directly effect which sports they get into as they get older.

⚽️ Football: Sure - football does have its positives, but boy does it have its negatives too! When I checked out football for my own six year old son a few years back, I can still vividly remember watching children roll around on the floor in ‘agony’ before springing to their feet and carrying on as though nothing happened. I still recall hearing parents berate their children and the referee from the sidelines. I still look back in horror as I observed cheating, swearing, disrespect and poor sportsmanship… at 6!!! Yes, there were moments of teamwork and camaraderie, but these were massively outweighed by the times there wasn’t, and I was blown away at how these characteristics and traits had embedded themselves at such a young age.

🏉 Rugby: Rugby is genuinely different. Rugby doesn't just develop physical skills - it builds character as well as:

• Teamwork
• ​Respect
• Listening skills
• Confidence
• Sharing
• Emotional intelligence

Yes, I hear the cries about rugby not being ‘safe’, but check out one of our classes and you’ll see just how wrong you are. Our non-contact approach to the game changes everything, and at Rugrats Rugby you can expect:

• Soft, safe equipment
• A focus on skill development
• Tag-based interactions
• Supervised, age-appropriate activities
• Confidence building without the physical risk

I would argue that our 2-7yo classes are even safer than comparable age football ones, and how teaching them the fundamentals at this age makes it a safe and healthy activity going forward, but I will address this and go into greater depth in a separate post.

​Expert Perspective - Why Rugby Wins
​As a coach with over 10 years of experience, I've seen countless children transform through rugby. The multi-dimensional skill development sets rugby apart from more linear sports like football.

​Don’t get me wrong, football has its merits, but rugby offers a more holistic approach to early childhood sports development. The variety of movements, emphasis on coordination, and focus on fun make it an ideal choice for toddlers and young children.

The fast paced environment of a Rugrats Rugby class is second to none and the ability to involve all children, regardless of of their age or ability is what we do best.

In short, when it comes to rugby or football - there really is only one winner…

​Ready to See the Difference?
​Book a FREE taster session and discover how rugby can transform your child's development:

• 🏉 Middlesbrough Saturday Classes
• 🏉 Guisborough Sunday Classes

Give your child the rugby advantage - where every session is a step towards confident, coordinated growth!

Looking for safe sports activities for toddlers in Teesside? Rugrats Rugby offers non-contact rugby classes for boys and girls aged 2-7 across Middlesbrough and Guisborough. Our fun, fast-paced sessions teach rugby skills, coordination, and teamwork in a completely safe environment. Book your child's first class today!

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