Stronger Kids, Beyond the Game
What’s the deal? What is all the hype about soccer in America these days??? This blog intends to address some of the positive benefits of soccer for children, but I encourage you to learn through your own experience.
Soccer is the world’s most popular sport. In many countries, it is the only major league professional sport. Imagine if the Football, Basketball, Baseball, and Hockey leagues united into 1 league … this is how soccer is treated in many countries. Soccer is proven to be an extremely popular sport that continues to grow each year in the US.
I am writing this blog on my way home from Asia where I spent 8 days in Indonesia as a guest player with DC United. We had two games there each of which were in front of 40,000 screaming fans at sold out stadiums. The tickets to our match sold out in 2 days and when we arrived to the stadium 3 hours before the match the stands were half full and the intense volume and cheers had already begun. The atmosphere is hard to describe since there is nothing like it in American sports. For example, it was impossible to communicate to my teammate standing next to me during the match since they couldn’t hear me. I have also never experienced a 5 minute delay due to smoke from flairs. 40 million viewers watched our first game and wherever we went in public we were stopped for photos. It was a cool experience and it illustrates how numerous countries around the world view soccer.
Back here in the US, the sport is gaining great momentum with a growing national major league and huge youth involvement. I have come to love the sport and have a strong desire to introduce as many children as possible to this beautiful game (along with its many benefits). When properly introduced and instructed, soccer can serve as a great tool for developing children physically, intellectually and socially.
Some of the Benefits of soccer for youth (ages 3-6) include:
- Simplicity: It is a simple sport and easy to learn. Unlike many other sports, soccer can be successful taught to preschoolers.
- Gender Neutral: It is great for boys and girls.
- Great Exercise: Some of the physical benefits include Cardiovascular endurance, Muscle Strength, Flexibility, Coordination, Balance and agility.
- Social Skills: Soccer (and sports) help children develop social traits such as discipline, teamwork, leadership, fairness and self-esteem.
- Life Skills and Character: Children involved in sports have the opportunity to learn from an environment that can help them develop creativity, resilience, perseverance and courage since they get to struggle with the challenges and grow from the adversities they face. The guidance of the coach and parent direct and guide the character development that the framework of soccer provides.
- Role Models: a quality coach can serve as a great role model for children.
- Fun: Kids learn through having fun – Soccer is a game and loads of fun!
Many child care directors I speak to frequently point out the statistic that children who are involved in sports get better grades and have higher self-esteem than those who do not. Children who exercise have more confidence and energy. The health benefits of soccer (physical and social) lay a solid foundation for future success. These benefits are multiplied when your child has a quality coach (one who understands the game, has proper expectations, communicates well and is of strong character) who is using a fun and age-appropriate curriculum.
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