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Sports … When to begin?
As an athlete, I certainly want my children to get “into” sports. Having 9 younger siblings and 3 young children of my own, I have had plenty of opportunity to observe and experiment. Coaching youngsters for over 15 years have also allowed me to see what works best for kids. It is my goal to give my children (as well as all involved in Mighty Kicks) the very best foundation to launch into a long and enjoyable sports career (at whatever level they play).
Every child is unique and matures at a different pace. I have a two year-old who tells my four year-old not to use his hands in soccer. Physical activity and parent/child bonding is a great thing and encouraged for the one year-old classes, but it is certainly not “sports” at this young age.
At the age of 2, most children can begin to comprehend simple sports with the help of their parents. Parents are encouraged to participate closely with their child. Instructions must be simple and clear. The children will respond best by following the leader or copying (teacher, parents or peers). Let the young child learn through exploring, experimenting and creative play. Limit the structure. Very few sports are simple enough for children at this age and my recommendation is certainly for soccer (See Benefits). Even within a soccer session, keep it short (40 minutes max) and sweet. Focus on coordination, balance, listening skills and body awareness above soccer skills.
The 3 and 4 year-olds should be kept from competitive play. The sport and instruction should still remain simple. The instructor must be entertaining in order to keep the child engaged. Parents can be involved with younger 3s with the goal of having them doing the exercises on their own whenever possible. The “follow the leader” instructional method works great for the 3s. The children have a short attention span and the activities should be switched every 5 minutes or so (session should be no longer than 45 minutes; 60 max if water breaks are included). Each child should have their own ball for 90% of the activities. A simple sport like soccer (what do ya know!) is ideal for this age and can serve as a great foundational sport for the other sports. Instructors can start to introduce skill development such as kicking and controlled dribbling. All instruction should stay positive! Coordination development and motor skills develop quickly at this age. I highly recommend a simple introduction to sports for your child when they are between the ages of 3 and 4 years old.
Ages 5 and 6 can be a challenge since an important transition takes place which must be handled delicately. While some 5 year-olds are ready for organized sports, others won’t be ready until later. The parent must be the best judge for this while making sure the sport remains enjoyable and fun for their child. By age 6 most children have the basic motor skills necessary for organized sports and are developing the hand-eye (foot-eye) coordination for more complex motor skills. The rules should be simple and promote success, action, learning and participation. You can bend the rules and equipment to accommodate the age (ex. size 3 soccer balls with 6’ goals and smaller boundaries). Everyone should have equal playing time. Competition can now be introduced, but the emphasis should not be on winning (ex. don’t keep score). Now is a great time to teach friendly competition and good sportsmanship (ex. you won’t always win, but it is more important to have fun).
As your children get older, competition will be of greater importance (ex. scores will be kept and tryouts will be had), but it is important that the priority remains on fun, learning, physical fitness and safety. Stay positive and encourage your child while being honest. Teach them how to improve if they are not pleased with the results. If your child enjoys learning and improving more than winning, they will do well (end up winning more). When the emphasis is on winning than the motivation can get drained pretty quickly and a fixed mindset can be formed.
In summary, get your child active as early as you are comfortable. They can begin “sports” as early as 2 as long as it is a quality Program/Organization. Keep things simple with an emphasis on learning, improving and fun.
Click Here to watch fun soccer games you can play At Home with your child!
Click Here for great resources to instruct and introduce your child to soccer.
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Mighty Kicks is a national franchise that offers a premier introductory early childhood soccer program. The affordable soccer franchise opportunity makes it easy to bring our proven business to your area. Click Here to learn how to impact youth and profit with your own Mighty Kicks business. Make your passion a career!
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