What age should you have your child get involved in team sports and how do you pick which sport is best for your child? There is no easy answer to that. Most kids, around the age four or five, are ready to start playing team sports. I would suggest soccer or basketball because they are easier to comprehend, the whole system. Most kids start out with soccer at four or five. You will get a good read on whether your child can run and kick and compete with other children. That's the time to start to look at it. If they are not ready and you don't feel like it's the right thing for them, don't force them to start playing soccer at four or five; wait until they feel like they are ready to.