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The 11 Best Soccer Nets For Scoring Goals

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Whether your child is already on a soccer team and looking to level up their skills, or you want to introduce them to the sport for the first time, there are two things they’ll need: a ball and a net. You probably already have the ball covered, but if you’re still on the hunt for the perfect backyard soccer net, you’ve come to the right place.

Luckily, there’s no need to run to the local sporting goods store to pick from the few (overpriced) options on display. You can find a range of soccer nets for kids and adults alike available online and ready to be shipped to your front door (or backyard). Here are our 11 favorites.

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PUGG 4 Foot Pop Up Soccer Goal

PUGG 4 Foot Pop Up Soccer Goal

12×6 Soccer Goal with Soccer Backstop and Target

12×6 Soccer Goal with Soccer Backstop and Target

JOGENMAX Portable Soccer Goal

JOGENMAX Portable Soccer Goal

Step2 Kickback Soccer Goal And Pitch Back

Step2 Kickback Soccer Goal And Pitch Back

1. Umbro 3′ x 2′ Pop Up Soccer Goal Net – 2 Goal Set with Carry Bag

Umbro 3' x 2' Pop Up Soccer Goal Net - 2 Goal Set with Carry Bag

This affordable soccer goal set comes with two goals (perfect for an impromptu game). It’s easy to store and comes with a carrying bag), so you can take it on the go. It’s lightweight, so even the kids can haul it around with ease. In addition to being ideal for families who head to the park for their playtime, this is a nice option for those families who don’t have a backyard or really anywhere to store a large goal. Once tucked away, this one can go in the garage, basement, mudroom or wherever you have space.

The kit also comes with pre-attached ground stakes. The soccer goals measure 36 inches wide, 24 inches high, and 24 inches deep.

2. Happy Jump Soccer Goal Soccer Net for Kids

Happy Jump Soccer Goal Soccer Net for Kids

For families who want something a little larger and a little more traditionally shaped, this Happy Jump Soccer Goal delivers. It measures more than six feet across and three feet tall and is designed to be set up in the backyard and then left there. The durable build is designed with all sorts of inclement weather in mind. Still, even with the sturdy construction, the net is lightweight enough that elementary-age kids can pick it up and move it around the backyard or take it to a neighbor’s house.

3. PUGG 4 Foot Pop Up Soccer Goal

PUGG 4 Foot Pop Up Soccer Goal

These lightweight, pop-up soccer goals are four feet across, and they come in sets of two with a carrying bag. Included ground pegs provide stability whether you’re using the goals on grass, sand or turf. The goals are made from high-quality poly net and nylon for extra durability without taking away from the lightweight design and ease of use. The goals are made specifically for small scrimmages and accuracy training.

4. Franklin Sports Premier Steel Soccer Goal

Franklin Sports Premier Steel Soccer Goal

For something a little more heavy-duty, look to this large, steel soccer goal. It measures 10 feet by five feet and is designed to be set up and left for everyday play. The black powder-coated steel frame and galvanized ground stakes keep the goal firmly in place during all kinds of weather. But, when you’re ready to store it away, just pop out some pins, and the goal will lie flat for easy storage in a shed or garage.

5. Best Choice Products 3-in-1 Toddler Sports Activity Center

Best Choice Products 3-in-1 Toddler Sports Activity Center

But let’s say you and your partner can’t quite agree on which sport to introduce your child to first. If you’re trying to give your toddler their first taste of the thrill of competitive sports, go with this affordable, 3-in-1, toddler-friendly play set. It features a basketball hoop, soccer net and ring toss, so they can try a few different activities. The set can be used both indoors and outdoors, and the basketball hoop extends from 24 to 39 inches high.

Related: The 12 Best Gifts To Buy Your Athletic Boyfriend

6. 12×6 Soccer Goal with Soccer Backstop and Target

12x6 Soccer Goal with Soccer Backstop and Target

For a net that provides 3-in-1 functionality, but with a firm focus on all things soccer, check out this soccer goal set from Amazon. In addition to the goal, there’s also a backstop net, so you’re not left chasing balls around the backyard or park if your child’s aim misses, and there’s a soccer practice target that simulates a goalie, so they can better develop that aim when it needs work.

Portable, but with lots of small parts that have to be put together and taken apart every time you move it, this net is ideal for the serious soccer fiend.

7. SKLZ Quickster Soccer Trainer Portable Soccer Rebounder Net

SKLZ Quickster Soccer Trainer Portable Soccer Rebounder Net

So this isn’t quite a soccer net in the traditional sense, but it is a practice net, it is built for soccer, and it’s exactly what your growing soccer player needs to up the ante on the field. The net helps players work on their passing and receiving skills while improving overall ball control. 

It might not be the thing to buy if your children are just looking for a little backyard fun and pickup games, but it’s definitely the thing to buy if your children are serious about their soccer skills.

8. JOGENMAX Portable Soccer Goal

JOGENMAX Portable Soccer Goal

This portable goal that can be used by a range of ages comes with a few cool features. The net features an LED lighting strip around its perimeter, so your child can play even in the dim dusk hours. A hanging training aid allows them to work on their aim. A set of extra disc cones can be used to create agility challenges.

The net comes in a set of two, and each measures four feet by three feet. A carrying case is included, and the frame is made from fiberglass.

9. Little Tikes Easy Score Soccer Set

Little Tikes Easy Score Soccer Set

So your toddler saw a soccer game on television, or maybe they’re enamored with their big brother or big sister’s soccer skills. Whatever the case, if you need an all-in-one way to keep them entertained this summer, this kit has you covered. It comes with a Little Tikes toddler-friendly soccer net, a child-sized soccer ball and even a ball pump. Just place your order, wait for it to arrive, and your kid can start playing almost immediately.

Related: The 14 Best Three Wheel Scooters for Kids

10. PodiuMax 2 in 1 Pop Up Kids Soccer Goal

PodiuMax 2 in 1 Pop Up Kids Soccer Goal

Another kids soccer net that’s not quite a traditional goal, this pop-up option features a large cover over the goal’s opening, with various shaped holes in the cover. The idea is to get your child to work on their aim so that they’re more likely to sneak that ball past the goalie during their next match – and this is the new training equipment they’ll need to make it happen.

11. Step2 Kickback Soccer Goal And Pitch Back

Step2 Kickback Soccer Goal And Pitch Back

For kids who are never quite satisfied with playing only one game all the time, this soccer goal provides two ways to have fun. The goal kit comes with not only the goal and a soccer ball but also two hockey sticks, one pitch back ball and one street hockey puck. The only other thing they’ll need is to rally together their siblings or neighborhood crew to start the fun.

Tips for Shopping for a Soccer Net for Kids

Found a favorite soccer net among the 11 above options? Keep these few things in mind as you make your final choice.

You don’t have to go crazy.

While you may feel like you need to buy the biggest and the best soccer goal for your family, that’s not necessarily always the case. Soccer is a sport that a lot of kids get into growing up. Evaluate whether or not this is just passing interest for your child or something they’re truly serious about. Also, take their age and skill level into account.

Unless you think you have the next Cristiano Ronaldo on your hands, you don’t have to go crazy with buying a super-expensive net. Just start small and go from there. If your child progresses or sticks with the sport for a few years, you can always upgrade.

Consider size.

The smallest kids’ nets, designed for toddlers and preschoolers, are usually only a few feet wide. The smaller size allows them to practice actually making it into the goal, as well as guarding a space suitable for their smaller bodies.

However, if your child doesn’t quite care about becoming a better goalie and they just want to have some fun, you might opt for a larger goal that’s rated above their age and size. After all, a larger target is easier to hit.

In general, for elementary age children, it’s recommended to purchase a goal from six feet to 18 feet wide; for preteens, a goal that’s 18 to 21 feet wide is recommended; for teenagers and adults, a full-size soccer goal that’s 24 feet wide is recommended.

Know all your football goal types.

If you skimmed through the above top picks and just chose your favorite by sight alone, you might want to go back and read a little closer before you click ‘add to cart.’ Not all soccer goals are the same, and they can be split into various types.

Pop-up soccer goals, for example, are designed to just pop up into place as soon as you take them out of the packaging. There’s no assembly required; they’re built for easy setup. Portable soccer goals, on the other hand, despite the description, do require assembly, and you have to take them apart and put them together each time you move them.

There are also goals with and without depth. Goals without depth just have a single top crossbar, and the net hangs down, connecting to the back, creating a 45-degree angle. Most portable and pop-up goals are of this type. Goals with depth, however, feature extra bars in the back so that the net doesn’t hang down and is, instead stretched taut across the goal’s back; this is handy for children working on their goalie skills, as it keeps them away from the net.

Think about material.

You don’t want a soccer goal that’s going to break the first time some random neighborhood kid decides to use it as a pull-up bar, do you? 

Soccer goals typically feature frames that are made from plastic, PVC or metal. Metal is your most durable option and often your most expensive. PVC frames are lightweight and less expensive than metal frames while still being more on the durable side. Plastic goal frames, though, should be avoided unless you’re not planning for the net to get all that much action or if it’s only going to be used as a pop-up goal that your child uses on the go.

How does the goal stay put?

Your goal stays put one of two ways: either via net clips and fastener pegs that you push into the ground or via its own sheer weight. If you only plan on using your goal in the backyard or at the park, then, by all means, go with the pegs and goal anchors. They’re easy enough to use and work well enough. However, if you think your child will ever want to use the goal in the driveway or in the cul-de-sac, you may need to go with a weighted option that doesn’t require the pegs.

Regardless, yes, you do need one of these two (so don’t think you can get away with just moving the pegged goal to the driveway and not pegging it somewhere). Otherwise, your goal can quickly be swept away by wind or weather, which isn’t just a hazard to your game. It can cause damage to kids and vehicles and, under the right circumstance, even your house.

What are You Waiting For? It’s Game Time

Whether you just want to give the kids a new backyard activity for the summer or you want to help your FIFA fan favorite child work on their skills, one of the above backyard soccer goal options will get the job done.

For more ideas for keeping the kids entertained this summer, check out our list of 60 kid-friendly activities the entire family will enjoy.

The 11 Best Soccer Nets: 

  1. Umbro 3′ x 2′ Pop Up Soccer Goal Net – 2 Goal Set with Carry Bag
  2. Happy Jump Soccer Goal Soccer Net for Kids
  3. PUGG 4 Foot Pop Up Soccer Goal
  4. Franklin Sports Premier Steel Soccer Goal
  5. Best Choice Products 3-in-1 Toddler Sports Activity Center
  6. 12×6 Soccer Goal with Soccer Backstop and Target
  7. SKLZ Quickster Soccer Trainer Portable Soccer Rebounder Net
  8. JOGENMAX Portable Soccer Goal
  9. Little Tikes Easy Score Soccer Set
  10. PodiuMax 2 in 1 Pop Up Kids Soccer Goal
  11. Step2 Kickback Soccer Goal And Pitch Back

Holly Riddle

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