Kids Sport in Phuket: Academies, Classes and Prices
Moving with a child runs into one question faster than schools or visas: where to take them. Kids sport in Phuket is not organised the way it is in a big city — there are almost no multi-sport centres under one roof, and instead a scattering of small academies built around one coach and one discipline. Here is what the island actually has, what it costs and what to ask before you pay for a month.
What exists on the island
The catalogue currently lists 22 venues that work with children — places with dedicated kids groups, not a vague "bring them along and we'll see". The split by discipline:
- football — five academies;
- tennis — four academies across five courts;
- swimming — three centres;
- dance — three studios;
- taekwondo — two clubs;
- basketball — two;
- sailing — two schools.
Martial arts are a separate story: most large Muay Thai gyms run kids groups, but as a stream inside an adult club rather than a standalone academy. We covered the gyms themselves in the Muay Thai guide.
Football
The densest discipline, and the only one where European club franchises operate on the island: Phuket has both a Paris Saint-Germain and a Cruzeiro academy. Alongside them are local Apex Lions, Republic & OAZ and Phuket Dolphins, the last built specifically around children's football.
One quirk worth knowing: football academies rarely publish prices. Not on their sites, not on social media — just "message us". This is not a sales trick but a local norm: the cost depends on age, sessions per week and season. Be ready to write on a messenger and ask.
Tennis
The second densest discipline, and here prices are open. The largest academy is KAHLI (SiamSportsPro) in Thalang: a kids group session runs 480–1,620 ฿ depending on format and length, a private lesson from 1,500 ฿.
Also working are Prime Tennis Academy in Thalang, Smile Tennis Academy in Phuket Town and Coconut Tennis Academy, which has two locations — in Kathu and at Boat Lagoon. Courts here are almost all open-air, so schedules are built around the heat: kids groups usually run early morning or after five.
Swimming
Three centres: JUMANJI Swim Center, Kaif Swimming Center in Kathu and BangBang Aquatics in Chalong. The format is much the same everywhere — one-to-one or a mini-group of two or three, because the pools are small.
A private lesson costs 1,000–1,300 ฿, a trial around 650 ฿. That is more than group sports, but few families here treat swimming as a hobby: ten minutes from the sea, it reads as a necessary skill.
Dance, martial arts and the rest
Dance — three studios: Prodance Family in Chalong, PIDA Dance Academy near Big C and Dance School Phuket in Kata. Styles run from ballroom to contemporary, with kids groups usually from age four or five.
Taekwondo — KEEN GYM Taekwondo in Phuket Town and Phuket Taekwondo Club. A discipline with a clear belt system, which many parents count as a plus: progress is visible.
Muay Thai for children lives in the regular gyms rather than in academies. For a price anchor: Tiger Muay Thai gives under-12s a 50% discount, which puts a single session near 250 ฿ and a month around 6,700 ฿ plus 7% VAT. At NOW Muay Thai a kids group session is 400 ฿.
Basketball — Dunkin' Raptors and Phuket Basketball Academy, both in Kathu. Sailing — Phuket Sailing School and Star Sailing School in Rawai; this one depends heavily on season and sea state, so confirm the schedule before you arrive.
What it costs: the short version
Prices as of August 2026, per session:
| Discipline | Group | Private |
|---|---|---|
| Tennis | 480–1,620 ฿ | from 1,500 ฿ |
| Swimming | — | 1,000–1,300 ฿ (trial ~650 ฿) |
| Muay Thai (kids) | 250–400 ฿ | on request |
| Football | price on request | price on request |
Holiday camps are a separate line: 3,000–8,500 ฿ per week depending on the sport and whether meals are included. We broke down general sport prices across the island in a separate piece.
What to ask before you pay
Five questions that save you a month and some money:
- What language the session runs in. Thai, English or Russian all exist here, and for a child this matters more than the coach's credentials.
- How many children in the group. A "group" on this island can mean four or eighteen.
- Is there a trial session and what does it cost. Almost everywhere yes, but not always free.
- What happens to missed sessions. Do they expire if your child is ill or you travel for two weeks.
- How payment works: per session, membership or package. A package is usually 15–25% cheaper but ties you to one place.
Getting there
Geography matters more than you would expect: Phuket traffic eats an evening faster than the training itself. Most kids academies sit in Kathu, Chalong, Thalang and Phuket Town — residential areas rather than beaches. If you live in Rawai or Bang Tao, budget the drive and check what is near your area.
Frequently asked
From what age do they take children? Usually four or five for dance, swimming and tennis. Football academies generally from six, martial arts from six or seven. Sailing schools almost always from eight, and expect the child to swim confidently.
Do we need our own kit? Not for the first session — equipment is provided almost everywhere. After that it depends: in tennis a racket gets bought fairly quickly, football needs boots for artificial turf, martial arts need your own gloves and wraps.
Do classes run all year? Yes, with caveats. The rainy season from May to October shifts outdoor schedules — football and tennis sessions can be cancelled by a downpour. Indoor disciplines (pools under cover, dance, martial arts) run steadily year-round.
Can we come irregularly? Almost everywhere yes, but at the per-session rate. Discounts only appear with a package or a monthly membership.
Where do we find a private coach? Some coaches work outside academies and travel to a court near you — their profiles are collected in the coaches directory.
In short
Kids sport in Phuket is a scattering of small academies rather than big centres. Tennis and swimming have clear prices and take children from four or five; football is the most widespread but you will have to ask for the price on a messenger; martial arts are the cheapest and live inside adult gyms. The full list of venues working with children is in the catalogue, with map, opening hours and contacts.
