Matthew Lewis Labarre, co-founder of Never Too Young FC in Dover, New Hampshire, addresses misconceptions that often keep young children out of organized movement programs.

DOVER, NH / ACCESS Newswire / May 14, 2026 / Setting the Record Straight

Many parents are told that children ages three to five are too young for organized sports, that they need to wait, or that early programs risk burnout.Matthew Lewis Labarre has spent four years working directly with preschool-age children and their families through Never Too Young FC. Drawing on that experience, he is addressing five myths that he says continue to limit access for young children and their families.

Myth One: Children This Young Cannot Focus

Children ages three to five can engage deeply when sessions are designed around their attention spans. Short activities, varied movement, and clear simple language hold their focus far better than adults often expect.

Myth Two: Early Sports Cause Burnout

Burnout is associated with high-pressure environments, early specialization, and adult expectations. Play-based programs that prioritize joy and inclusion produce the opposite effect, building a positive long-term relationship with movement.

Myth Three: Skills Need to Come First

Technique is not the priority at this age. Free movement, body awareness, and simple successful tasks build the foundation that real skill work depends on later.

Myth Four: Competition Builds Character Early On

At ages three to five, children care about how an experience makes them feel, not who won. Confidence, social comfort, and the willingness to try again are the character traits that matter at this stage.

Myth Five: Nutrition Education Is Too Advanced

Children understand more than adults often credit them with. Conversations about water breaks, snacks that help the body run longer, and simple food choices can be woven into sessions in ways young children grasp and remember.

A Different Picture of Early Sports

Labarre's work suggests that the earliest sports experiences are less about athletic development and more about social development, confidence, and the formation of healthy habits.

About Matthew Lewis Labarre

Matthew Lewis Labarre co-founded Never Too Young FC in 2021 with his wife in Dover, New Hampshire. The program introduces children ages three to five to soccer and basic nutrition through play. He was selected to the High School All-American Soccer Team, earned All-State honors in basketball and baseball, and captained the Dartmouth College men's soccer team while studying sociology. He holds licenses through USA Youth Soccer and Grassroots Soccer.

Pick one myth that has shaped your family's choices and test it with one short play session this week.

Media Contact

Matthew Lewis Labarre
info@matthewlewislabarre.com
https://www.matthewlewislabarre.com/

SOURCE: Matthew Lewis Labarre