6 Best Rugby Kicking Tees For Young Kickers That Develop Proper Form

You’re standing on the sideline, watching your child line up a kick at goal. They meticulously build a little mound of dirt, balance the ball just so, take a few steps back, and then… the ball topples over right as they start their run-up. We’ve all seen it, and it’s a moment of pure frustration for a young player who just wants to practice. This is where a seemingly simple piece of equipment—the kicking tee—becomes one of the most important tools in their kit bag.

Why a Kicking Tee Matters for Proper Form

It’s tempting to think a kicking tee is just a piece of plastic for holding a ball. But for a young player, it’s a critical tool for building a correct, repeatable technique from the ground up. Think of it like training wheels on a bike; it removes a major variable (a wobbly, unstable ball) so the child can focus entirely on the core mechanics of the kick itself.

When a child isn’t worried about the ball falling over, they can concentrate on the key elements: the run-up, planting their non-kicking foot, keeping their head down, and swinging their leg through the ball smoothly. A good tee provides a consistent height and angle every single time. This repetition is how muscle memory is built, creating a solid foundation that will serve them for years, long after they’ve developed the power to kick from any lie.

Without a tee, kids often develop bad habits to compensate for an unstable ball. They might shorten their run-up, stab at the ball, or lift their head too early to see where it’s going. A proper tee isolates the kicking motion, making it the single most effective investment you can make in your child’s place-kicking development. It turns frustrating practice sessions into productive ones focused on form.

Dan Carter Supertee Xtra for Building Consistency

You’ve noticed your child is no longer just having fun, they’re starting to take their kicking seriously. They’re the one staying after practice to take a few more shots at goal. This is the stage where consistency becomes the primary goal, and the Dan Carter Supertee Xtra is designed specifically for that purpose.

Developed with one of the greatest kickers of all time, this tee’s design is all about creating a clean strike. Its tapered, flexible teeth are engineered to hold the ball securely but release it with almost no friction upon impact. For a young kicker, this means more of their energy is transferred directly into the ball, helping them learn how their foot position affects flight and distance.

This tee is an excellent choice for players aged 11 and up who have the basic mechanics down and are now working on repetition and fine-tuning. It helps them feel the difference between a good strike and a great one. While it’s a step up in price, its durable construction means it will last through seasons of dedicated practice, making it a smart investment for a child who has shown a real passion for kicking.

Gilbert 320 Precision for Sweet Spot Training

Does your child have plenty of power but struggles with accuracy? One kick sails perfectly through the uprights, but the next veers wildly off to the side. This is a common hurdle, and the Gilbert 320 Precision tee is an outstanding tool for teaching the fine art of hitting the ball’s “sweet spot.”

Unlike tees with a wider, more forgiving cradle, the 320 has a minimal contact area. This design intentionally makes it harder to balance the ball, forcing the kicker to be deliberate and precise in their setup. More importantly, it provides immediate feedback; a kick off the sweet spot flies true, while a mis-hit feels and sounds different. It’s a self-correcting tool that teaches a player to aim for a specific point on the ball, not just the ball in general.

This tee is ideal for an intermediate player, perhaps in the 10-13 age range, who is ready to move beyond just making contact. It’s a diagnostic tool that can help a coach or parent identify and correct subtle flaws in technique. Using the Gilbert 320 turns practice from just kicking balls to purposeful training focused on a specific, crucial skill.

Optimum Telescopic Tee for Adjustable Height

Kids grow. Fast. The shorts that fit in September are too small by May, and the same goes for their sports equipment. The Optimum Telescopic Tee is a wonderfully practical solution for a young, growing kicker, saving you from buying a new tee every time they have a growth spurt.

This tee’s key feature is its screw-style adjustable height. A young player can start with the ball higher, which makes it easier to get underneath and achieve good lift. As they grow taller and their technique improves, you can gradually lower the tee to challenge them further. This adaptability makes it a fantastic long-term purchase.

The Optimum is a great choice for players in the 8-12 age bracket, where physical changes are rapid. It’s also a smart buy for families with multiple children, as it can be easily adjusted for a 7-year-old and their 10-year-old sibling during the same practice session. It prioritizes practicality and longevity without sacrificing the stability needed for good form.

Rugby Bricks RB Wolf for Technique Development

When your child starts watching kicking tutorials online and analyzing professional players, it’s time to give them a tool designed by a specialist. The Rugby Bricks RB Wolf tee was created by a kicking coach, and its unique design is built around teaching a specific, modern kicking technique.

The sloped angle and the way the ball sits forward on the tee are not accidental. This setup encourages the kicker to approach the ball from an angle and swing their foot through on a path that generates both power and accuracy. It naturally promotes keeping the head and body over the ball, one of the most critical and difficult habits for young players to learn.

This is a tool for the dedicated student of the game, typically aged 12 or older. The RB Wolf isn’t just for holding the ball; it’s an active participant in the coaching process. It provides constant, subtle cues that reinforce the lessons a coach is trying to teach, making it an excellent bridge between formal coaching sessions and individual practice.

Rhino Vortex Elite for Stability and Power

You’re at a tournament, the wind is howling, and the field is more lumpy than flat. In these conditions, the last thing a young kicker needs to worry about is their tee tipping over. The Rhino Vortex Elite is built like a tank, offering a wide, stable base that provides confidence in any weather.

The primary advantage of this tee is its sheer stability. The weighted base and grip on the bottom keep it planted firmly on the ground, allowing the player to focus 100% on their run-up and strike. This is incredibly important for developing power, as a player can attack the ball aggressively without fear of the setup failing.

Because of its robust, all-conditions design, the Rhino Vortex is a versatile workhorse suitable for a wide range of ages, from about 9 years old into the late teens. It’s a durable, reliable piece of kit that can be thrown in a bag, used on any surface, and trusted to do its job every time. It’s the go-to tee for building a powerful, confident kicking motion.

Centurion Adjustable Tee for Young Beginners

Remember your child’s very first season? The main goal is simply to have fun and make contact with the ball. The Centurion Adjustable Tee is the perfect introduction to kicking for the youngest players, designed to build confidence and make the skill accessible.

This tee uses a simple, brilliant stacking system. For a 5 or 6-year-old, you can use all the segments to place the ball quite high off the ground. This makes it a much larger target and allows them to easily swing their foot underneath it, sending the ball flying and producing a huge smile. As their coordination and skill improve, you simply remove a section to lower the ball, progressively increasing the challenge.

This is the quintessential first tee. It’s not about professional technique; it’s about positive reinforcement and the joy of participation. The best ability is availability, and the best tee for a beginner is the one that makes them want to try again. The Centurion tee achieves this perfectly, making it an ideal, low-cost starting point for any child just discovering the game.

Matching a Tee to Your Child’s Kicking Style

Choosing the right tee isn’t about buying the most expensive one or the one their favorite player uses. It’s about matching the tool to your child’s current developmental stage. The goal is to provide a piece of equipment that offers the right amount of challenge without causing frustration.

Think of it as a progression. A young child needs a tee that makes success easy to build confidence, while a more experienced player needs a tee that will challenge them to refine their technique. Don’t rush the process. A simple, stable tee is often more beneficial for a 9-year-old than a complex, pro-style model that may highlight flaws they aren’t ready to correct yet.

Here’s a simple framework to help you decide:

• For the new beginner (Ages 5-8): Prioritize confidence and ease of use. Look for a high-profile, adjustable tee like the Centurion.
• For the developing player (Ages 9-12): Focus on consistency and adaptability to growth. The Optimum Telescopic or the stable Rhino Vortex are excellent choices.
• For the dedicated kicker (Ages 12+): Invest in a tool for technique refinement. The Rugby Bricks RB Wolf, Dan Carter Supertee, or Gilbert 320 Precision will help them hone their craft.

Ultimately, the right tee is one that encourages practice. It should feel like a helpful tool, not a frustrating obstacle. By matching the tee to their current needs, you’re giving them the best possible chance to develop a love for the skill and the game.

Remember, your role is to support the journey, not to perfect the outcome overnight. The right kicking tee is a small but meaningful way to show that support, removing a point of frustration and allowing them to focus on their own improvement. Celebrate the well-struck practice kicks just as much as the ones that go over in a game, and you’ll be fostering a resilience that lasts a lifetime.