| The benefits for young boys and girls of playing | | | | improve their health. We've mentioned already the |
| soccer are numerous and the benefits can be seen | | | | improvements at school. |
| both on and off the soccer pitch. From fitness to | | | | Social benefits, such as mixing with others, having to |
| social interaction and life skills soccer provides an | | | | work as a team, contributing through individual effort |
| unusual, but ideal, training ground for later life. In | | | | to a collective goal, experiencing the highs and lows, |
| today's media we are constantly being reminded of a | | | | picking each other up, competition, striving to be the |
| health time bomb that is about to explode as children | | | | best, aiming to win and supporting and helping others |
| today are not active enough. | | | | are all by products of playing soccer. |
| There are so many competing distractions for our | | | | Many of the life skills that the players learn through |
| children's attention, video games, endless channels to | | | | soccer are beneficial in later life, how to form and |
| watch, these can all lead to sedentary lifestyle if they | | | | build relationships, developing a sense of co-operation, |
| are not kept in check. | | | | how to lead people, how to handle adversity, what |
| Soccer is the beautiful game, played by millions of | | | | commitment means and punctuality, are all key |
| young girls and boys (aged 6 to 18) across many | | | | qualities that will benefit the players in adult life. |
| continents, whether it's on the beaches of Rio, the | | | | If your child is already playing soccer, great. But what |
| back alleys of a major city nearby or the local park, | | | | can you do if you want to get your child involved in |
| you will find someone kicking a football around. | | | | a local soccer team? Here are seven must ask |
| In today's society there has been a shift to more | | | | questions that you and your child should consider |
| organised soccer practice for our youth players. Gone | | | | when attempting to find a suitable club... |
| are the days of jumpers for goal posts, as streets | | | | 1) What level of commitment is required in terms of |
| are littered with cars and grass verges now have | | | | practice sessions and games at the weekend? |
| houses built on them. | | | | 2) When are the training sessions? When are games |
| Having a more structured approach is both a good | | | | played, what's the format and how much time will |
| and a bad thing; on one hand young players get | | | | you need to devote? |
| structured development and education through willing | | | | 3) How far are you willing to travel to training and to |
| volunteers who show them how everything from | | | | matches? Some clubs will operate travel teams |
| how to warm up correctly, develop their technical | | | | where distances can be considerable, including |
| ability with the ball right through to skill development | | | | overnight stops. |
| and organised small sided games to wrap everything | | | | 4) What are the costs involved? Some clubs adopt a |
| up together to provide a total learning experience. | | | | pay when you play, others a more structured |
| Today time is limited and therefore there may be | | | | approach. The most expensive clubs are not always |
| only an hour or two devoted to structured soccer | | | | the best, ask yourself is what your paying in the |
| practice during the week, what happens when | | | | equivalent to what your child is getting out? |
| practice is over?Getting your child to participate in an | | | | 5) What do you and your child want out of playing |
| organised soccer school or club can bring tremendous | | | | soccer? This needs to be aligned with the |
| benefits to you and your child. | | | | prospective clubs philosophy, is it about having fun or |
| Soccer can help increase your child's self esteem, | | | | winning? |
| which feeds their self talk which ultimately drives | | | | 6) How best will your child learn, develop and stay |
| their performance. But soccer isn't the only winner, | | | | interested? Are they happy just to be involved or |
| quite often it can be seen that academic | | | | would they thrive in a more competitive |
| performance can increases to!Studies have shown | | | | environment? |
| that getting young children involved in soccer at an | | | | 7)What is the clubs constitution and philosophy to |
| early stage promotes a real healthy attitude towards | | | | soccer, how long have they been in existence, the |
| the game and this attitude continues with them into | | | | experience of the coaches, location, facilities etc. |
| adult life. | | | | Once you have considered the above questions what |
| The number one reason why children play soccer is | | | | are your next steps to finding a suitable club or |
| to have fun; if soccer is fun and enjoyable then | | | | soccer organisation for your child? |
| players will want to continue playing. This benefits | | | | You can...i) Get in touch with your local Soccer |
| their overall fitness and reduces their health risks | | | | Association by searching the web or looking in yellow |
| considerably. | | | | pages. They should be able to provide you with a list |
| Soccer is made fun by coaches worldwide who | | | | of clubs and organisations in your local area.ii) Ask |
| willingly give up their time voluntarily to organise | | | | other parents/guardians about local junior and youth |
| youth soccer practice and coach teams. | | | | soccer teams. You'll be surprised at how many adults |
| Gone are the days when soccer, for the really young | | | | or their children are involved.iii) Encourage you children |
| players, was an 11 a side game with offside rules and | | | | to ask their school mates where they play their |
| no touches of the ball for massive periods of the | | | | soccer. Knowing some of the team can be a real |
| game. | | | | advantage as players integrate themselves into a |
| Youth soccer from the age of 6 to 11 is typically | | | | team.iv) Ask your child's form tutor or headmaster if |
| about having fun, playing small sided matches such as | | | | they know of any clubs or organisations. Many clubs |
| 4 v 4 with no goal keepers, promoting lots of | | | | have formed good relationships with the schools over |
| touches of the ball and player interaction on the pitch. | | | | the years.v) Read the local papers or local news |
| Through playing soccer and encouraging children to | | | | websites you'll be amazed at how much coverage |
| take regular exercise many of the risk factors that | | | | youth and junior soccer gets. |
| are associated with heart disease such as obesity | | | | These five practical steps should enable you to find a |
| and diabetes can be reduced significantly. It is stated | | | | club that meets yours and your child's soccer |
| that childhood obesity has increased by more than | | | | aspirations. However, if there still isn't a club near you |
| 50% since 1976, which is a really scary fact. | | | | that can satisfy a need why not look to set up your |
| Getting your child involved in soccer doesn't just | | | | own team! |