🌸 Spring Sports & Activity Guide for Brooklyn Kids
This winter has been brutal (I’m writing this in mid-February and already saying that). We are all dreaming of Spring and days at the park. I know we don’t always dream of schlepping to activities, but it is the parental rite of passage.
Here’s a parent-friendly guide to the most popular spring sports in Brooklyn. I’ve crowd-sourced this with my knowledge, Facebook groups, and a bit of Reddit. Did I miss your favorite? Please send me a note so I can add!
Use the links below to hop to your preferred section.
Most Affordable Kids’ Sports in Brooklyn
Before I list by sport, SFX Sports deserves a special shout-out. My son has completed their tee-ball program, and I have friends who have participated in many of their other sports. SFX is volunteer-organized and coached by parents. This makes it much more affordable and feels like the sports experience of our youth instead of the current private equity-optimized one we lead. SFX has teams for tee-ball/baseball, basketball, soccer, volleyball, and flag football.
⚽ Soccer (Ages 2–12)
Good for: toddlers through elementary school
Structure: Parent involvement from ages 2-4 years old. Ages 5-7 is still lessons. Around the age of 6, you can start to find games and separate boys/girls teams who compete more.
Unsolicited Opinion: No need to rush this one. This was the first sport I signed both my kids up for when they were two years old. Neither really paid any attention, and I felt like they just wanted me to hold their hand.
Brooklyn Soccer Clubs for Kids of All Ages
Soccer Shots NYC- A great vendor for the early-aged kids, 2-5 years old. Have never explored their older classes.
Sweat FC- This is a fairly new club that has many ages and locations for offerings.
Park Slope United- It’s been a few years, but I really liked Park Slope United. They were among the first groups I saw that used games instead of just lessons. (It helped us learn that soccer was not the sport for my daughter lol). They do have developmental and try-out leagues.
SFX Soccer- Organized by parents, I’d guess this league is more informal, but great for community and affordability.
Gjoa Soccer Club- I have friends with a fifth grader who plays here, and they really like it. It offers travel options and a strong pipeline for students pursuing a more serious path.
⚾ Tee-Ball & Baseball
Good for: ages 3–10
Unsolicited Opinion: Teeball was the funniest sport to watch for my son, so I loved playing. The games can be a bit long- this sport also ramps to competitive pretty quickly!
Brooklyn Tee-Ball & Baseball Vendors
Park Slope Little League
Prospect Park Youth Baseball Association
SFX Sports: Plays at Dean Street Playground in Prospect Heights & Prospect Park
Bed-Stuy Sluggers: Plays in Bed-Stuy at Herbert Von King Park. I have a friend with a 6 YO in the program who raves about it!
North Brooklyn Youth Baseball League: Plays in Williamsburg & Greenpoint
🎾 Tennis
Prospect Park Tennis Center: At the covered courts south of Prospect Park. The website cites high demand and little availability, which is not promising.
Court 16: Indoor facility in Downtown Brooklyn. It can be a bit complicated to get into lessons here, as you have to join as a member as well. If you’re looking to try it out first, they do offer camps during school breaks and school holidays.
CityParks Tennis Foundation: A program with a variety of free options and clinics to enroll in.
Pop-Up Tennis Kids: Winter and Spring indoor clinics for kids ages 5-11.
James Russell Tennis Training: Private & Semi-Private Classes at South Oxford Park.
🏊 Swim Classes
Imagine Swimming: I’ve visited most of these pools, and this is by far the best setup. Enrollment is rolling as well, which can be easier. They also offer weekly intensive lessons during school break. These are hour-long lessons for every day of the week. A child can make a huge amount of progress when they can stack up so many swim back-to-back.
Chelsea Piers: This pool is new, and the facility is nice and clean. The water is warm- I found the instructor quality and Imagine a bit better, and the lesson scheduling easier.
British Swim School: This location in the basement of a condo building in Prospect Heights had the smallest changing area of all time. The pool is small, and I found the setup around it frustrating. The instructor we had was good, but we switched to Imagine Swimming once that facility opened.
Goldfish School: I’ve heard good things about this swim school, but I've never been able to get a lesson, even though I’ve tried a few times. I’ve heard the customer service can be spotty, but the instructors are good.
Take me to the Water: This is geared towards younger children (2.5 years old) in a hotel pool in Downtown Brooklyn. I’ve never been in the pool, but
Berkeley Carroll: The pool offers group and private lessons, open to the public. I have been in this pool, and it is cold! I’ve heard their private lessons are reasonably affordable for quality instruction, though.
CBE Lessons: I’ve heard great things about the private and group lessons held at CBE, too!
Lifetime Fitness: Based at their Dumbo location, this Lifetime has a variety of kids’ programming and options. I have no other firsthand knowledge of the space or lessons, though!
🏃♀️ Track
Prospect Park Youth Running Club: Starting at age 6, this program has a Spring Session that opens March 6th.
Brooklyn Kid’s Run: A variety of different rung groups starting at ages 6.
YMCA Park Slope Armory: You have to be a member to participate, but it has a great indoor track.
🤸 Gymnastics & Movement Classes
Gotham Gymnastics: The gold standard for gymnastics in Brooklyn. Classes fill up here quickly. Lots of options for non-serious gymnasts as well.
Chelsea Piers Field House: It’s a nice, big space with lots of availability for different age groups.
Brooklyn Ninja Academy: Classes start at age 6, with drop-in available for mini-ninjas ages 3-5.
MyGym: MyGym offers great “get moving” programs for little ones and gymnastics/ninja-style classes for kids ages 3-10. The environment is a bit more relaxed, and my kids really like that.
Joy Gymnastics: Gymnastics facility based in Industry City.
Prospect Gymnastics: Gymnastics facility with one location in Bed-Stuy and one in Ditmas Park
🥋 Martial Arts (Karate / Taekwondo / Judo)
Daruma Martial Arts: Located on Franklin Ave in Crown Heights, my son really enjoys this Dojo!