Children Learn More Than How to Kick the Ball
How kids develop their soccer and lifetime skills from a really good coach.
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The proud mother and father have helped the little 5 year old put on uniform, cleats (shoes that provide traction on the field), regular socks, then shin guards and then knee high soccer socks over them. Shirt and shorts are in the color of their team. These are usually donated by a local bank or other business and have the name emblazoned across the front or back of the shirt. Soccer is not only the fastest growing and most popular sport for kids, it’s also great exercise, builds new friendships and is big business for the suppliers of equipment.
At the tender age of 7 there should be no favoritism as to which player plays at what time. It is of course left to the coach’s discretion but it is expected that each little one will have time on the field regardless of ability. A good coach will find something to compliment in every child. Many coaches of teams in this age category (approximately 5 to 7) do not keep score. They play, loosely adhering to the rules and they learn to enjoy the game. In each such game at the beginning of the season, invariably one or two of the kids will run the ball down the field brilliantly, only to end up kicking it into the wrong net. It’s quite cute actually.
They learn to remember to bring their water bottles and slather on sunscreen along with how to keep from putting their hands on the ball no matter how much they want to. Even the ball is sized smaller to accommodate the younger kids. The moms who transport them to practice twice a week and cheer for them at the games are soccer moms having a lot of fun. For the cold months there are indoor soccer facilities to serve the kids who love the game so much they want to play year round. At the end of each game a healthy snack is usually provided. The soccer moms (and dads) take turns throughout the season bringing things such as raisins, granola bars, bananas and various other treats that won’t harm their teeth.
Learning to accept defeat and congratulating the winning team are important goals. The practice of both teams high fiving each other at the end of the game is excellent training towards the goal of being a good sport. There is a fine balance to be found somewhere in between not caring too much about winning and developing the desire to win that will be required for good participation when they are older. At this early age the goal should not be winning. Instead it should be learning to help each other prepare to win in two or three years. Gaining knowledge of the rules and a sense of their own physical selves and where they should be on the field is a great beginning. A great coach will remember, if it isn’t fun for the child he will not be just a bad player – he’ll be an absent player and never learn the joy of winning through team work.
A good coach can motivate these little ones to try their best. A great coach can send them home feeling as if they have each done a great job.
