co-founder of Never Too Young FC
Matthew Lewis Labarre is a youth sports leader and co-founder of Never Too Young FC, a Dover, New Hampshire–based program focused on introducing children ages 3–5 to soccer through play. A former Dartmouth College men’s soccer captain and High School All-American, he combines competitive athletic experience with hands-on coaching to help young children build confidence, movement habits, and social skills early.
For Matthew Lewis Labarre, it began with a simple thought: why do young children feel excited about sports, yet are often told they need to wait? That curiosity led to the creation of Never Too Young FC, a soccer program for kids aged three to five. In 2021, Labarre and his wife started the business from their home in Dover, New Hampshire.
The concept was straightforward. Young children naturally want to be active, and families are eager to find opportunities for them. However, many sports programs don’t begin as early as parents might hope.
“I kept hearing the same thing from parents,” Labarre explains. “Their kids wanted to play, but they were told they weren’t old enough yet.”
Rather than accepting that gap, he chose to create something to fill it.
Labarre grew up deeply involved in sports. In high school, he stood out as a multi-sport athlete. He was named a High School All-American in soccer and earned All-State honors in both basketball and baseball. Those years taught him discipline and adaptability.
Matthew Lewis Labarre did not build his career by chasing trends in youth sports. Instead, he paid attention to what families needed and built something around that insight.
The program began to evolve around a few core principles. Movement should feel playful. Sessions should stay short and energetic. And every child should feel successful. “We’re not trying to create elite athletes at age three,” Labarre says. “We’re trying to create positive first experiences.”
Soccer has been a central part of my life for as long as I can remember. From my days playing multiple sports in high school to captaining the men’s soccer
Soccer has been a defining part of my life. From my early days playing multiple sports in high school to captaining the men’s soccer team at Dartmouth College, I learned