If you have a kid who’ll kick a soccer ball around the yard for hours, here’s a way to make all that kicking a little more interesting.
The new StrikeSphere Speedball from Golden Bear Toys doesn’t just give kids a ball to kick. It gives them a score to beat.
And if you’ve ever watched kids turn absolutely anything into a competition, you already know where this is going.
The StrikeSphere Speedball uses a Smart Power Sensor to measure each strike and displays a score right on the ball’s built-in LED screen. Kick the ball, check your score, then try to beat it.
Suddenly, soccer practice feels a whole lot more like a game.
What Is the StrikeSphere Speedball?
The StrikeSphere Speedball is a size 4 soccer ball designed for kids ages 6 and up.
Built into the ball is a Smart Power Sensor that measures each kick. The score appears on the LED display located right on the ball, with scores going all the way up to 999.
There’s no separate scoreboard to keep track of and no complicated setup. The ball has simple one-button activation, so kids can get outside and start playing pretty quickly.
The idea is simple:
Kick.
Check your score.
Kick harder.
Try again.
Beat your brother, sister, friend, parent, teammate or your own high score.
You can probably see why I think kids are going to have fun with this one.
Turn Soccer Practice Into a Challenge
One thing I like about the idea behind Speedball is that kids aren’t just randomly kicking the ball around.
They’re trying to improve something.
They can work on getting more power behind their shot and see immediately whether the next kick scores higher than the last one.
That instant feedback gives them a reason to keep practicing without it necessarily feeling like “practice.”
And you definitely don’t need a serious soccer player to enjoy it.
A beginning player can compete against their own previous score. More experienced players can turn it into a challenge with friends or teammates.
I can also see this becoming one of those backyard competitions where suddenly Dad is out there insisting he gets “just one more try.”
How Fast Was That Kick?
This part is worth explaining because the Speedball doesn’t simply have a traditional speedometer built into it.
The ball gives the player a score, and the packaging includes a speed conversion chart covering scores from 0 to 99 with corresponding estimates in both kilometers per hour and miles per hour.
The box also notes that the conversion is based on test conditions and that actual speeds may vary.
In other words, I’d look at this primarily as a fun way for kids to compare their kicks and track their improvement rather than laboratory-grade speed-testing equipment.
For a kid trying to beat yesterday’s score, though, that’s really the fun part anyway.
What’s Included?
The Speedball itself is a size 4 ball with the sensor and LED screen built right into it.
Batteries are included, which is always a nice surprise when you’re giving a toy as a gift and would rather not discover Christmas morning that you need to hunt through the junk drawer for batteries.
There’s also a QR code on the packaging that takes you to setup information.
The package highlights:
- Smart Power Sensor
- Every strike measured
- LED screen display
- Scores up to 999
- One-button activation
- Size 4 ball
- Outdoor play
- Batteries included
- Ages 6+
The ball also includes a speed conversion chart for comparing scores with estimated MPH and KM/H speeds.
A Fun Gift for Soccer Kids
This is where I think the StrikeSphere Speedball could really stand out.
There are only so many soccer balls, cones, goals and jerseys you can give the soccer-obsessed kid in your life.
This gives them something a little different.
Instead of just another piece of soccer gear, it’s something they can actually interact with and challenge themselves with.
It could be fun for:
Kids who already play on a soccer team
Kids who are just learning to play
Backyard soccer games
Sibling competitions
Practicing shooting power
Team practice challenges
Birthday gifts
And, of course, holiday gifts.
I especially like gifts that get kids outside and moving without making a big production out of it. Give them a ball and a number to beat and they’ll probably invent the rest of the game themselves.
Where Can You Buy the StrikeSphere Speedball?
The StrikeSphere Speedball by Golden Bear Toys will be available in Fall 2026, at Amazon and Walmart.
My Take on the StrikeSphere Speedball
There are plenty of toys that slap technology onto something simply because they can.
This one actually makes sense.
The screen and sensor add a challenge to something kids already do: kick a soccer ball as hard as they can and immediately ask, “Did you see that?”
Now they get a number.
And, naturally, once there’s a number involved, they’re going to want to beat it.
The StrikeSphere Speedball looks like a fun gift idea for a soccer-loving kid who enjoys competition, wants to work on shooting power or simply needs another excuse to get outside and kick a ball around.
Just be prepared.
Once the adults start comparing scores, the kids might have trouble getting their ball back.
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