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