Matthew Lewis Labarre and the Idea That Started With a Question

Great ideas often start with a simple question. For Matthew Lewis Labarre, the question was this: why are young children excited about sports but often told they have to wait? That question eventually became Never Too Young FC, a youth soccer program designed for children ages three to five. Labarre launched the company with his wife in 2021 from their home in Dover, New Hampshire.

The idea was not complicated. Young kids want to move. Families want opportunities for their children. But many sports programs start later than parents expect.

“I kept hearing the same thing from parents,” Labarre says. “Their kids wanted to play, but they were told they weren’t old enough yet.”

Instead of accepting that gap, he decided to build something around it.

A competitive background that shaped his thinking

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.

“When you play several sports, you learn how different teams operate,” he says. “You learn how to adjust to different roles and different expectations.”

He later attended Dartmouth College, where he studied sociology and played on the men’s soccer team. Eventually, he became team captain.

Leadership during those years helped shape his perspective.

“Being captain means you’re responsible for more than your own performance,” Labarre says. “You’re responsible for the culture of the group.”

He was also invited to participate in regional and national team pools, which exposed him to high-level training environments.

Those experiences would later influence how he approached youth coaching.

Discovering a gap in youth sports

After college, Labarre remained close to the sport through coaching. Over time, he began noticing something unusual.

Many youth programs focused on children who were six or older. Very young kids were rarely included.

That surprised him.

“Three- and four-year-olds are curious and energetic,” Labarre says. “They want to move. But a lot of programs aren’t built for that age group.”

The challenge was not demand. Parents were interested. Kids were excited.

The real challenge was design. Coaching preschool-aged children requires a different approach.

“You can’t expect a three-year-old to train like a teenager,” he says. “They learn through games, imagination, and repetition.”

This realization became the starting point for his next step.

Building never too young FC from the ground up

In 2021, Labarre and his wife launched Never Too Young FC. At first, it was a small, local effort. They ran sessions with families nearby and watched how young children responded. Each week became a learning opportunity.

“We paid attention to what made kids laugh, what kept their attention, and what made them want to try again,” he says.

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.”

Why confidence matters more than competition

One thing Labarre noticed quickly was how confidence develops in young children. Some kids arrive excited. Others stay close to their parents at first. But with the right environment, change happens quickly.

“I remember one child who refused to step onto the field during the first class,” he says. “By the fourth week, he was the first one grabbing a ball.”

Moments like that reinforced the purpose of the program. Success at this age looks different from traditional sports. It might be kicking the ball forward. It might be running a short obstacle course. It might simply be joining the group activity.

“Small wins are huge for young kids,” Labarre says. “They build the confidence to try again.”

Adding nutrition and community to the program

Another feature that separates Never Too Young FC is its nutrition component. Labarre believes the connection between food and energy can be introduced early.

“We keep it simple,” he says. “Kids understand the idea that food gives you energy to run and play.”

Rather than formal lessons, these ideas appear naturally during sessions. The company also emphasizes community involvement. Programs highlight local parks, neighborhoods, and businesses.

Parents often connect with other families during sessions. “You start seeing the same families each week,” Labarre says. “It becomes part of their routine.”

Bringing an idea to life

Looking back, Labarre sees the company as an extension of a larger belief. Children are capable of more than adults sometimes assume. All they need is the right environment.

“Kids don’t need pressure,” he says. “They need space to explore and feel successful.”

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.

Sometimes a meaningful idea does not come from a boardroom strategy session. Sometimes it begins with a simple observation and the decision to act on it.