| A grassy field, two nets, a soccer ball and some | | | | scene of young children exhibiting their soccer skills. It |
| playful youth is the ideal setting for a little league | | | | demonstrated their experience of learning team |
| soccer game. You may have recalled yourself of a | | | | development. |
| time when you observed these little league events. | | | | I've been to many sporting events and observed the |
| You enter a spacious field of green, housing | | | | common procedures for games, but watching these |
| numerous miniature soccer fields all lined up next to | | | | children play soccer was interesting. Little leagues |
| each other, and young athletes running after a ball. | | | | develop more than just growing children and their |
| You may have been more overwhelmed by the | | | | interests; they build a foundation for team |
| abundance of children playing, rather than the actual | | | | development. The little league organization provides a |
| soccer game itself. But what you can appreciate | | | | chance for children to develop athleticism and |
| from this is the sight of children utilizing their endless | | | | surround themselves among their peers. While sports |
| energy and their parents and relatives rooting for | | | | teams at the higher level (high school, college, |
| them from the sidelines. | | | | professional) focus more on winning, little leagues |
| I attended my young nephew's soccer game and | | | | seem to focus more at fostering team development |
| was amused by the organization of the event. The | | | | by giving youth the opportunity to participate in |
| parents of both teams were the main figures of | | | | teams. |
| managing the game as being the referees, coaches, | | | | Team development influences. Children are easily |
| and fans. His teammates were not just boys, but | | | | influenced. When parents put their children in little |
| girls, all of whom were the same age. The young | | | | leagues or other organizations where it involves being |
| athletes played a first-time role of being on a team | | | | with their peers, they are educating them to become |
| and practicing the basic fundamentals of soccer; | | | | good team members. Perhaps it is evident that |
| getting the ball into the opposing team's net. Sporting | | | | parents put their children into sports when they are |
| the same color jerseys, his teammates were easily | | | | young. By the time they are older and in their |
| identified as those he should ally. The view of the | | | | prospective sports, they will have the experience. |
| game included a hoard of young athletes following | | | | If you reflect back upon your own childhood, were |
| the ball back and forth, their fans cheering closely | | | | you ever on a little league team? Can you recall your |
| from the sidelines, and coaches rotating players in | | | | team's name, or remember the color of your jerseys |
| and out of the game. When the game was over, the | | | | or all of your teammates' names? You probably |
| players showed sportsmanship by slapping hands with | | | | cannot recall those little things and it's irrelevant now. |
| the other team. No matter who won or lost, the | | | | What might have been a lasting lesson of your little |
| young athletes seemed more interested in seeing | | | | league stint would be the experiences you have |
| what treats they would get afterwards. Overall, this | | | | gained of the importance of team development. |
| condensed version of a game was more than just a | | | | |